Today in history

March 23

1918
The trial of 101 Wobblies (members of the Industrial Workers of the World or IWW) began in Chicago, for opposition to World War I. In September 1917, 165 IWW members were arrested for conspiring to hinder the draft, encourage desertion, and intimidate others in connection with labor disputes. The trial lasted five months, the longest criminal trial in American history to date. The jury found them all guilty. The judge sentenced IWW leader “Big Bill” Haywood and 14 others to 20 years in prison; 33 were given 10 years, the rest shorter sentences. They were fined a total of $2,500,000 and the IWW was shattered as a result. Haywood jumped bail and fled to Russia, where he remained until his death 10 years later.

“Big Bill” Haywood on right

1933
The Nazi German concentration camp at Dachau opened, the first of many such camps built for the destruction of Jews, the Roma (frequently referred to as Gypsies), the “work-shy”, homosexuals, the “hereditary asocial” and those with mental and/or physical handicaps.

1942
The U.S. government begins moving native-born Americans of Japanese ancestry from their West Coast homes to imprisonment in detention centers.

1961
The first member of the American military died in Indochina. He was on an intelligence-gathering flight returning from Vietnam. (The last American died on April 30, 1975.)

1980
Archbishop Romero assassinated, El Salvador

1984
New Zealand: One thousand boats demonstrate against arrival of U.S.S. Queenfish, Auckland.