Oscar William Neebe, an anarchist and labor activist, was born on this day in 1850, in New York City. Neebe’s interest in the labor movement was first piqued whilst visiting bakeries and breweries in Chicago, prompting him to found the Beer Wagon Drivers Union. This would later become a part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
He was also one of the Haymarket martyrs: Though he was not present on the day of the meeting and subsequent bombing on Haymarket Square, he was arrested because of his association with some of the other activists. Despite this, he was imprisoned for 15 years.
In 1893, he was finally pardoned by Illinois Gov. John Peter Altgeld. Neebe died in 1916.
Photo: Wikipedia (CC)
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