Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 12, 2023 03:17 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Sharif Street |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution Observing June 21st as “The Day of the Rope” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution Observing June 21st as “The Day of the Rope” in Pennsylvania. Irish workers who emigrated to America during the 19th century often faced harsh discrimination. Displayed at many job sites were signs that read “Irish Need Not Apply.” One place they did find work was in the often-dangerous Pennsylvania coal mines in Schuylkill County. In late 1874, Franklin Gowen, the president of the Reading Railroad who controlled the mines at the time, announced severe wage cuts. The miners went out on strike. During the strike, the mine operators blamed any act of violence in the region on a group of labor activists known as the Molly Maguires, calling their actions terrorism. Through deception and tainted trials, on June 21st, 1877, twenty Irish miners in Pennsylvania were hung, even though much of the testimony presented in the case was inconclusive and contradictory. It became known in Pennsylvania labor history as “The Day of the Rope.” I encourage members to join me in co-sponsoring this resolution which pays respect to all those who have been discriminated against and wrongfully accused on the basis of their race, class, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation, and honors the history of the labor movement in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as SR144