Today in Labor History May 28, 1968: Students occupied the University of Madrid (still under control of fascist dictator Francisco Franco). Cops raided the campus and removed the occupiers, and then shut down the University. At the time, all political parties had been banned, except the Falange. Franco had banned all protests and labor unions, too. Thousands had been rounded up and tortured, imprisoned or killed. Like much of the world at the time, a New Left movement had formed in Spain, though Spain’s was completely underground due to the repression of the dictatorship. Protests and demonstrations had been occurring for months. Most were met with violent repression and imprisonment.
Today in Labor History May 22, 1968: New York police broke through the barricades at Columbia University, busting the student occupations there. As a result, 998 were arrested and over 200 injured. Students were demanding a black studies program and an end to military recruitment and ROTC on campus. Sound familiar? However, today’s student protests are bringing back the worst of 1960s-‘70s police brutality and university intolerance for Free Speech along with McCarthy era firing, blacklisting and doxing of academics for the crime of criticizing the Israeli government, under bogus claims of antisemitism.
Solidarity with academic workers striking at University of California, Santa Cruz against police repression of campus Gaza protests! And with the 48,000 academic workers, at 11 UC campuses, who have just authorized a statewide strike vote.
Meanwhile the UC has filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the NLRB, claiming it's unlawful to strike over issues that aren't "labor related." But how is it not "labor related" when the UC is firing and disciplining teachers for expressing solidarity with Palestine? How is it not "labor related" when they're using the police to create a violent and disruptive environment in their workplaces?
Today in Labor History May 15, 1969: Police fought students in the Battle for People's Park at the University of California Berkeley, California. The battle was over a small strip of land that the students had claimed as community commons. Governor Ronald Reagan sent in National Guards to reclaim the Park. Police gunfire killed a bystander, James Rector, and wounded 60 others, including Alan Blanchard, who was blinded for life. Street fighting continued for 17 days. Another 150 demonstrators would be shot and wounded. The battle for the park has continued ever since, with the university continuing to claim ownership and threatening to turn the park into everything from units of student housing to a parking lot. The defenders of the park have done numerous direct actions over the past 50 years to defend the park, provide mutual aid, provide free food and clothes to unhoused folks, and offer community classes. As recently as 2024, the cops have attacked, beaten, and/or arrested park defenders.
Today in Labor History May 13, 1954: Chinese middle school students in Singapore protested against British attempts to force them to sign up for the National Service. When they clashed with police, over two dozen were injured and nearly 50 were arrested.
Today in Labor History May 11, 1968: The "Night of the Barricades" occurred in Paris, from May 10-11. It started when security forces blocked student protesters from crossing the river. As a result, they threw up barricades. The police attacked them at 2 am on May 10, savagely beating them and arresting hundreds. In response to the police violence, students and workers called for a General Strike on May 13.
After only 4 days of student protests, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) vows to pull its investments in Israeli companies that feature on a UN blacklist, and set up a taskforce to explore engagement with Israeli institutions.
Today in Labor History May 3, 1968: The first battles of the May Upheaval began in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The police arrested 500 students meeting at the University of Sorbonne to protest repression at Nanterre. Revolt broke out along the route taken by police vans, with thousands fighting against the police. Throughout the month of May and part of June, workers and students occupied schools, factories and offices. By mid-May, 10 million workers were on strike.
US faculty speak up and stand alongside student Gaza protesters
'At Georgia’s Emory University, faculty members have been arrested at pro-Palestine demonstrations – including Emil’ Keme, a professor of English and Indigenous studies, and Noelle McAfee, the philosophy department chair.'