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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January 14, 1601  
The Roman Catholic Church burns sacred Hebrew books in Rome.
January 14, 1875  
Birth of Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), physician, theologian, musician, opponent of nuclear weapons, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Quote: “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.”
January 14, 1918  
Mass strikes in Austria-Hungary.
January 14, 1919
Rosa Luxemburg writes her last article, “Order Prevails in Berlin,” hours before she is murdered.
She concludes with the words: “You foolish lackeys! Your ‘order’ is built on sand. Tomorrow the revolution will ‘rise up again, clashing its weapons,’ and to your horror it will proclaim with trumpets blazing: I was, I am, I shall be!”
January 14, 1921
Birth of Murray Bookchin (1921-2006), American anarchist, author, and founder of the social ecology movement.
January 14, 1963
Reesor Siding: A lumber workers’ strike begins in Northern Ontario when workers walk off the job. Among the workers’ grievances are a wage freeze and a plan by the Spruce Falls Power and Paper Company to make them work seven days a week to meet production quotas. Local farmer-landowners who make money selling wood to the company are extremely hostile to the strike, and on February 10 they launch an armed attack on the unarmed strikers, killing three and wounding eight others. Twenty landowners are charged in the attack; eventually three of them are found guilty of firearms violations and fined $150 each. The police also charge 237 strikers for ‘illegal assembly’; 138 of them are found guilty.
Further Reading: Reesor Siding
Related Topics: Strikes: Canadian
January 14, 1967
The day of the “Human Be-In,” a ‘happening’ in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park; a prelude to San Francisco’s “Summer of Love”.
January 14, 1999
Death of Victor Papanek (1927-1998), designer and author.



January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December
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For more information about people and events in Seeds of Fire, explore these pages: