The Herrin Massacre, Illinois, 1922
In April 1922 the UMW initiated a nationwide coal strike. The Southern Illinois Coal Company, which operated a mine outside of Herrin, Illinois, had but recently opened the mine and entered into an agreement with the local UMW to continue to operate the mine, extracting coal, but not shipping it to customers.
As the strike continued nationwide the supply of coal shrank, raising prices. The Southern Illinois decided to take advantage of higher prices by shipping the coal and when UMW officials attempted to hold the company to its previous agreement the union miners were fired. Strikebreakers were hired to continue mining operations.
Fired strikers surrounded the mine and gunfire was exchanged between strikers, strikebreakers, and the hired security guards brought in to protect the mine. At least three strikers were killed. The following day strikebreakers in the mine offered to leave the county in exchange for surrendering their weapons and being guaranteed safe passage.
When the strikebreakers left the mine under the conditions agreed nineteen of them were murdered by strikers. Several of the strikebreakers were taken into nearby woods and told to run, they were then shot down. Others were taken to the cemetery where they were shot in full view of townspeople, many of whom were reported to be cheering the violence. Some were beaten to death and at least three had their throats slit. A twentieth victim was chased down and killed later in the day.
Only six men were ever charged for the several murders and in two trials the defendants were acquitted, causing the prosecutors to dismiss the remaining charges on those waiting to be tried. Eventually a grand jury faulted the mine for attempting to maximize profits and for hiring the strikebreakers and guards. No fault was assigned to the union at any level for failing to police its members.