Police murdered Walter Wallace on camera. His mother was trying to de-escalate his mental health crisis. Rioters over powered armed police last night. Solidarity protests have popped up nationally as a response.
On this day, 28 October 1916, conscription to the army in Australia during World War I was narrowly defeated in a referendum by 51% to 49%. Labor prime minister Billy Hughes, a former union leader, had vigorously attempted to introduce conscription. He blamed the revolutionary union the Industrial Workers of the World for the defeat. The IWW had been extremely active in opposing conscription and the war. Hughes responded by banning the organisation and arresting and jailing many of its members and activists. A second referendum was held the following year, and defeated by an even bigger margin.
Find out more in our podcast episode about the Australian IWW here: https://workingclasshistory.com/2019/01/28/e19-the-iww-in-australia/https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1567095520142259/?type=3
