Today in Labor History November 19, 1915: Joe Hill, IWW organizer and song writer was executed by a Utah firing squad after being convicted of murder on trumped-up charges. His final message from prison was “Don’t mourn, Organize!” His ashes were supposedly sprinkled in every state of the union, except Utah, because he had said, "I don't want to be found dead in Utah." They were also sprinkled in Canada, Sweden, Australia and Canada. Some of his most famous songs were “The Preacher and the Slave,” “The Rebel Girl,” “There is Power in a Union,” “Casey Jones, the Union Scab,” and “Mr. Block.” In 1988, an envelope containing his remaining ashes was discovered.
Linocut print (1979) depicting Joe Hill, by famed IWW artist Carlos Cortez. His story is told in brief at the top of the poster, alongside the address of the IWW. He holds a paper reading 'If we workers take a notion, we can stop all speeding trains, every ship upon the ocean, we can tie with mighty chains, every wheel in the creation, every mine and every mill, fleets and armies of all nations well at our command stand still'.
Spending a lot of time in the fantasy world lately: Earlier this week I wrapped up the audio of The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, which took longer than expected because I had to replace my good Pixel Buds. Now I'm onto Roses and Rot by Kat Howard and Locke & Key Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.
Book cover for Locke & Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Will Eisner Nominee
Cover shows a small six-sided stone structure with a heavy wooden door in winter. Snow is falling and covers the roof and ground. A stylized skeleton key with a treble clef for the handle and musical notes for the teeth is superimposed over the structure.
Commentary: Joe Hill murdered by the state of Utah 110 years ago ( fightbacknews.org )
Joe Hill. ...