#ResistanceRoots Today in history, 1894: The Army of the Commonwealth of Christ, better known as Coxey’s Army, arrives in Washington, D.C., to protest high unemployment. Although ultimately unsuccessful, it was the first major protest march on Washington, paving the way for many others. /1 - ThreadSky

bambooshooti.bsky.social • 4 days ago

#ResistanceRoots

Today in history, 1894: The Army of the Commonwealth of Christ, better known as Coxey’s Army, arrives in Washington, D.C., to protest high unemployment. Although ultimately unsuccessful, it was the first major protest march on Washington, paving the way for many others. /1

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thegreatduggo.bsky.social•3 days ago

The guy in the bowler is iconic.

acrarius.bsky.social•4 days ago

✊

redrebel.bsky.social•4 days ago

📌

bambooshooti.bsky.social•4 days ago

The march was organized by Jacob Coxey, an Ohio businessman and politician who wanted Congress to fund public works projects to create jobs for the unemployed. Coxey’s band of 100 men left Massillon, Ohio, on March 25, 1894. Other groups left from various parts of the country. /2

bambooshooti.bsky.social•4 days ago

Although some of the groups that left from the West Coast lost members along the way, Coxey’s Army grew to more than 500 by the time it reached Washington, D.C., with more on the way. They camped at the 260-acre Shreve farm site at what is now Colmar Manor, Md. /3

bambooshooti.bsky.social•4 days ago

The men were unemployed due to the Panic of 1893, the most serious economic depression until the Great Depression. Because the panic had caused a run on gold from the U.S. Treasury, Coxey wanted the government to pay workers in paper currency to increase the amount of money in circulation. /4

bambooshooti.bsky.social•4 days ago

The protesters assembled at the U.S. Capitol on May 1, 1894, to voice their demands, and Coxey and other leaders were soon arrested for walking on the grass. Interest in the protest quickly dwindled, although more militant groups formed their own “armies” in the Pacific Northwest. /5

bambooshooti.bsky.social•4 days ago

Coxey’s demand that the government create jobs was radical at that time, but it ultimately came to fruition with FDR’s New Deal. Coxey’s Army brought attention to the plight of the unemployed, inspired elements of the Wizard of Oz, and paved the way for future marches on Washington, D.C. /end

chris-george-alex.bsky.social•3 days ago

Fast forward to Mayday 1971. Also arrested at the Capitol. I'm near the "This Entrance Closed" sign in this pic.

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