workingclasshistory:

On this day, 23 August 1851, a violent riot broke out in Sydney, Australia when police tried to arrest Michael Knight, a sailor who was wearing women’s clothing. A police constable had arrived on the scene to quell the supposed “disorder” and intercepted Michael at a pub. To the cheers of the other patrons, Knight decked the officer and fled. While the officer called for reinforcements, Knight proceeded to St Philip’s church and began abusing the parishioners until subdued, arrested and dragged to a watch-house by seven police officers. On hearing of the arrest, sailors from two military ships gathered a crowd who then marched on several watch-houses, attacking police and succeeding in freeing many prisoners, although not Knight, who was later fined.
We have produced a poster commemorating this event, illustrated by Agustin Huarte, to help fund our work: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/all/agustin-huarte
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