Today in Labor History August 31, 1933: Italian American labor organizer and socialist, Giovanni Pippan, was murdered during his campaign to organize the Italian bread wagon drivers of Chicago. In 1921, he was beaten by fascists in Albona, Italy, while on his way to support striking miners. In response to this fascist attack, the workers of the region rose up, occupied all the mines, and declared the Albona Republic. They organized their own government and “red guard” to protect themselves from law enforcement. They managed the mines by themselves with the support of a section of farmers. 1 month later, the republic was violently crushed by the state. For his role, Pippan was threatened with death by the local fascists. He fled to the U.S. There, he helped organize the silk workers of Patterson, New Jersey; participated in the organization and defense of the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti; and fought against fascist elements within the Italian-American community.
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