General Discussion

DBoon

(23,173 posts)

27. Lesson from history: The attempted murder of Henry Clay Frick

Thu Dec 5, 2024, 03:06 PM

Dec 5

In 1892, during the Homestead strike, anarchist Alexander Berkman attempted to assassinate Frick. On July 23, Berkman, armed with a revolver and a sharpened steel file, entered Frick's office in downtown Pittsburgh
...
Frick was back at work within a week; Berkman was charged and found guilty of attempted murder. Berkman's actions in planning the assassination clearly indicated a premeditated intent to kill, and he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.[5] Negative publicity from the attempted assassination resulted in the collapse of the strike.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay_Frick (my bolding)

So, the target survived, Berkman spent a long time in prison, and the strike collapsed.

The violent history of the American labor movement has some lessons for the 21st century. One is that individual acts of terrorism not only fail but also discredit the overall cause.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Deep State Witch

44 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

So is vigilantism now the preferred way of making a statement or enacting change? [View all] milestogo Dec 5 OP

One person does this, you assume it's widespread? leftstreet Dec 5 #1

It seems to be popular here on DU. milestogo Dec 5 #2

It's hugely "popular" across most social media right now leftstreet Dec 5 #7

Are you saying you're seeing lots of DUers going out and shooting people? Do tell. Otherwise, if you're Scrivener7 Dec 5 #23

From my perspective it is shockingly popular here at DU Redleg Dec 5 #24

American judges have made it clear that the law does not apply to rich white males. Irish_Dem Dec 5 #3

Preferred? No. Understandable? Yes, IMO. Happy Hoosier Dec 5 #4

Who said that? BannonsLiver Dec 5 #5

Boo-fucking-hoo. Coventina Dec 5 #6

I would like to say no sarisataka Dec 5 #8

Is jailing those that can't pay their medical debt the preferred method of collection? tenderfoot Dec 5 #9

Who said that? BTW, this will change nothing with that corporation. themaguffin Dec 5 #10

one isolated event equals preferred way? prodigitalson Dec 5 #11

Understanding and empathizing with somebody's motives is not the same as endorsing their actions. Voltaire2 Dec 5 #12

I think a number of us are feeling some empathy. yardwork Dec 5 #35

the 'system' is broken. It isn't working for a lot of people. Voltaire2 Dec 5 #36

That is becoming more and more apparent. yardwork Dec 5 #40

People are getting fed up with the bullshit. BlueTsunami2018 Dec 5 #13

Violence is the last resort of the incompetent. Isaac Asimov Ping Tung Dec 5 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author onecaliberal Dec 5 #31

Asimov was a serial sexual harasser so I'm not sure everyone holds him in the same regard as you do. BannonsLiver Dec 5 #32

Did he go to trial? Ping Tung Dec 5 #38

""Violence is the language of the unheard." - MLK, Jr. intheflow Dec 5 #42

Probably a last resort for a few that feel powerless to change things any other way. nt 2 Meow Momma Dec 5 #15

I agree. But, his act Will save no lives. The CEO will be replaced by another moneymaker. Ping Tung Dec 5 #39

Appears so. Maybe the government ought to get it's act together and enact a viable healthcare system Silent Type Dec 5 #16

People kill people that they're made at all the time... Think. Again. Dec 5 #17

Don't mistake enjoying a little Schadenfreude for support for vigilantism LearnedHand Dec 5 #18

First of all, you're 100% correct Blue_Tires Dec 5 #19

I've watched some westerns set in 19th century America milestogo Dec 5 #20

I'm not disagreeing with you Blue_Tires Dec 5 #22

No one here is advocating for vigilantism LearnedHand Dec 5 #30

Its time to acknowledge we are in a fight and stop this moral high ground crap Asa13 Dec 5 #21

Nothing else seems to work. alarimer Dec 5 #25

I've not read anyone condoning murder. CrispyQ Dec 5 #26

Lesson from history: The attempted murder of Henry Clay Frick DBoon Dec 5 #27

The dead man made deliberate decisions that killed a lot of people on the daily. onecaliberal Dec 5 #28

Broad-brush straw man argument. Basso8vb Dec 5 #29

Rich Man, Poor Man Deep State Witch Dec 5 #33

Not the "preferred" way, but it appears to be electorally beneficial to Retrumplicans maxrandb Dec 5 #34

Being happy someone is dead Trenzalore Dec 5 #37

The dead man made life choices also. Conjuay Dec 5 #41

It's ok to be indiffferent to vigilantism (or even pleased) if you think the person was bad Bonx Dec 5 #43

ANOTHER thread about this? nt GenThePerservering Dec 5 #44