Tragedy struck the docks of Everett, Washington, on Sunday, November 5, 1916, which would come to be known as "Bloody Sunday." On November 5, 1916, the Everett Massacre marked the culmination of labor unrest that had been brewing for months. It was one of the bloodiest episodes of labor-related violence in the Pacific Northwest. In 1916, Everett, Washington was facing serious economic difficulties. There was a constant confrontation between business interests and unions and union organizers. The worker organized numerous rallies and street speeches. These measures were opposed by local law enforcement, who were firmly on the side of the company. On May 1, 1916, the Everett Shingle Weavers Union went on strike. The strike was quickly resolved in favor of the factory owner, but only one. That’s when the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) or “Wobbies” got involved and the trouble began. Many members of the IWW saw this as an opportunity to organize and support the strikers. When IWW organizer and speaker James Rowan arrived in Everett on June 31, 1916, Everett became home to the IWW's new "Fight for Free Speech." Everett's employers encountered the stubbornness of the IWW. At the corner of Hewitt and Wetmore, IWW speakers chose to speak. At first, speakers were arrested and released. Members received a dollar from the union for each day they spent in prison. Everett's jails were very busy, and Snohomish County Sheriff Donald McRae quickly became frustrated. McRae's next solution was to arrest the speakers and send them to Seattle, ordering them not to return to Everett. On August 19, 1916, the balance shifted after an episode of violence struck Jamison Mill. That day, at the start of the shift, strike-b...... middle of newspaper...... rented from prison, almost all the men of the IWW went to the Mount Pleasant cemetery to visit the graves of their dead colleagues. Everett was the “Wobbies” last stand for free speech. The violence that took place on November 5, 1916 will never be forgotten and left its mark on the history of the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Northwest workers have actively shaped their lives, on and off the job. But it wouldn't be the last of many changes to the Pacific Northwest. Works Cited Schwantes, Carlos. “The Pacific Northwest: An Interpretive History.” University of Nebraska. 1996. University of Washington “The Everett, Washington Massacre of 1916.” 2010. March 15, 2011. Essay on the Everett Massacre HistoryLink.org - The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, March 12. 2011.