DETROIT—On March 7, 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, more than 5,000 unemployed auto workers and their supporters marched up to the River Rouge auto plant. Their goal was to demand jobs and relief from billionaire capitalist Henry Ford. This historic protest, known as the Ford Hunger March, ended in tragedy when Ford’s private security and local police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing five and injuring dozens. The march became a pivotal moment in the labor movement, highlighting the stark divide between workers and the capitalist elite during one of America’s darkest economic crises.
Nearly a century later, in 2025, activists, union members, and community leaders gathered at United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 to commemorate the Ford Hunger March. The memorial event honored the sacrifices of those who fought for workers’ rights and reflected on the ongoing struggles for jobs, housing, healthcare, anti-discrimination, and unemployment relief. Attendees also emphasized the need to resist the rise of fascism, which continues to be fueled by powerful billionaires in the Trump administration.
Peggy Frankie, a participant at the event, told People’s World, “The Ford Hunger March was a turning point. It united people in the fight for unions, but it also exposed the brutal lengths corporations would go to suppress workers.” Steve Noffke, a Local 600 member and worker at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, added, “The fact that Henry Ford killed five people that day tells you everything you need to know—and how little has changed.”
The Ford Hunger March remains a stark reminder of the power of collective action. As labor activists today face similar challenges around the fight for jobs, healthcare, and anti-discrimination, the lessons of 1932 continue to inspire the fight for justice and dignity in the workplace.
Watch the video below to hear UAW Local 600 members and community activists share their perspectives on the Ford Hunger March and its legacy.
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