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Illinois adopts the 8 hr. workday law but employers refuse to follow the law.
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May 3,1886 workers went on strike and began to participate in marches and peaceful rallies. Police oficeers shot and and killed protesters that confronted the strike breaker leaving work . As result a peaceful rally was organized at Haymarket Square for the next day.
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workers gathered at Haymarket Square.It was very peaceful and the rally was coming to an end. At 10:30 pm police showed up and ordered everyone to go home. Then a bomb was thrown into the path of the police. There at exchange of gun fire between the policemen and demonstrators. The person who threw the bomb was never identified. In less then 5 minutes the street was empty accept for those shot dead. 7 police officers and at least 4 workers were shot dead. Many others were wounded.
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8 men were convicted with no solid evidence. The jury was unfair because it was made up of business owners. 7 men were sentenced to death by hanging and 1 sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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Sadly the Haymarket Riot delayed the Labor Movement because most people took the side of the police and thought the workers were violent.
