On this day, 22 January 1826, members of the Acjachemen Nation, who were field hands at the San Juan Capistrano mission, California, refused to work, engaging in what may have been the first farm worker strike in the state, then part of Mexico. Over 100 workers gathered, rose in rebellion and demanded that the local padre (priest) be placed in stocks. They reportedly insulted the local captain of the guard, and told him that if he would not put the priest in stocks, then they would put him in instead. There was a long history of resistance by Native Americans to the missions and other colonisers before this point, so this may just be the first reported work stoppage.
Pictured: workers at the mission, date unknown https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1904678103050664/?type=3
