Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology
Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.
Compiled by Ulli Diemer
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December 30, 1890
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Birth of Victor Serge (1890-1947), revolutionary activist and writer.
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December 30, 1936
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Start of the Flint Sit-Down Strike. Workers at General Motors Fisher Body plant in Flint, Michigan, go out on strike. At lunchtime, word is received that GM plans to move key production equipment out of the Fisher #1 plant, intending to defeat the strike by moving production to another plant. Workers respond by physically occupying the plant and keeping management out. Outside supporters keep up a regular supply of food to the strikers inside while sympathizers march in support outside. The company uses both violence and legal measures to try to defeat the strikers. The company finally signs an agreement with the recently formed United Auto Workers Union on February 11, 1937. The strike leads to a surge of support for the UAW: in the next year, its membership grows from 30,000 to 500,000.
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December 30, 1971
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Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo are indicted and charged with espionage, theft, and conspiracy for releasing secret government documents about the Vietnam War, known as the Pentagon Papers, to the New York Times. Ellsberg admits giving the documents to the press. He says: “as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public. I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision.” The trial begins on January 3, 1973. On May 11, 1973, after a series of revelations about grotesque government misconduct in the case, the judge hearing it dismisses the charges. Government misconduct includes offering the judge the directorship of the FBI if he convicts Ellsberg and Russo.
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December 30, 1977
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Police raid offices of The Body Politic gay liberation newspaper in Toronto and seize twelve packing crates of material as “evidence”, including subscription lists.
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December 30, 1994
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Two receptionists, Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols, are murdered in two clinic attacks in Brookline, Massachusetts. John Salvi, who prior to his arrest was distributing pamphlets from “Human Life International”, is arrested and confesses to the killings.
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