An (Un)Civil Action: Violent Conflict during the Bread and Roses Strike

Saturday, February 27, 1:00 - 4:00 pm 1:00-4:00 p.m.An (Un)Civil Action. On February 27, 65 people gathered at the Lawrence State Heritage Park for An (Un)Civil Action: Violent Conflict during the Bread and Roses strike. This event was sponsored program by Mass Humanities. See photos from the event on Flickr

Despite a week of inclement weather, and threatening flurries, 45 of us walked around Lawrence with Jim Beauchesne, Acting Supervisor and park historian, and historian Dexter Arnold, getting a feel for the clashes during the strike. 65 people then watched the film and almost all stayed for a discussion with Bob Forrant of UMass that really took up the juxtaposition between John Brown's violence and that (or lack there-of, as we also discussed at length) of the 1912 strike. According to the partners, there were many new faces.

An (Un)Civil Action: A closer look at violence in Massachusetts history
In October of 1859, John Brown organized a raid on Harper’s Ferry Armory in hopes of sparking a slave rebellion. He was funded, in part, by Massachusetts citizens. Mass Humanities’ Massachusetts History programming marks this 150th anniversary with programming that addresses the question of civic violence – violent action in support of an idea, however good or bad, and somehow related to the role of the citizen, the format of the civitas, and/or the social order.

Like Brown, citizens have taken up arms against other citizens, government institutions, and corporations. Conversely, cities, the Commonwealth, Federal Government, corporations, and citizen organizations have used arms against citizens, even if only to demonstrate might. Rebellion, strike, religious strife, political riot, all are forms of civic violence.

What is the difference between terrorism and revolution? When is it justified to rise up and take a stand? Does the end justify the means? Where does keeping law and order shade into state suppression? How culpable are we when we do nothing while violence happens in our name? Do we require a police presence to keep a civil society? If not, is something wrong? Together, we will watch a film and think about local historical events and our civic responsibilities.

An (Un)Civil Action: A Closer look at violence in Massachusetts history features excerpts from John Brown’s Holy War and a fresh look at local history in five towns around the Commonwealth. Stay tuned for upcoming events:

Participants felt it was an interesting and thought-provoking program.

Presented in Partnership with: Lawrence Heritage State Park; Lawrence History Center; Lawrence Public Library