The Bread and Roses Strike
The bread and roses strike began on January 11, 1912, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Textile workers at Everett mill’s, salary
had been reduced by 32 cents. While it may not seem like much, that holds the difference between having a meal or
starvation. Raging employees spread the word overnight and the next morning a walkout was incited. They shouted in the
streets “Short pay! All out!”. The people were infuriated. Those who yield weapons overpowered the guards and rushed into
factories tearing up machine belts, cloth, and thread. Using the weather to their advantage they threw ice and bricks,
shattering the windows. The police retaliated with billy clubs, beating strikers. On January 12, just one day later more than
10,000 workers were on strike. The number of workers on strike continuously increased over the next week. Marching
through the frigid cold protestors sang songs, made speeches, and chanted while fronting armed militiamen guarding brick
textile factories. The most impactful saying was “We want bread, and roses too” hence the protest name. All different
cultures of people came together to support the cause. They received food and money donations nationwide. Children fleeing
the unstable environments were met with police. They dragged their mothers by the hair and beat them with clubs. A hearing
commenced. Workers as young as 14 came forward with testimonies about the detrimental working conditions. Carmela Teoli
(14yrs) attested a machine tearing off her scalp, leaving her in the hospital for several months. Astonished by her words the
public acknowledged and took sides with the cause. After nine weeks of ardent fighting, mill owners finally complied, granting
the workers a 15% wage increase, compensation, and assurance that there would be no retribution. The mill workers
demanded to be heard, using passion and force, They were right for what they did. Textile work conditions were inhumane and
atrocious. Owners were aware of the work setting and continued to treat them that way. Because of the Bread and Roses
strike, textile workers nationwide received wage increases and better working conditions. Centuries later the city of
Lawerence commemorates the strike that changed work industries forever.