Battle of George Square

Battle Of George Square

The "Battle of George Square", also known as "Bloody Friday" and "Black Friday", was one of the most intense riots in the history of Glasgow; it took place on Friday, 31 January 1919. The dispute revolved around a campaign for shorter working hours, backed by widespread strike action. Clashes between the City of Glasgow Police and protesters broke out, leading to the British government sending soldiers and tanks to the city to prevent any further gatherings due to their fear of a Bolshevist uprising. It was described as a "social revolution" by supporters, as had happened the previous year in the 1917 Russian Revolution, and was occurring in Germany and in the Austro-Hungarian Empire while the 'Forty Hours' strike unfolded.

Read more about Battle Of George Square:  Forty Hours Strike, Riot, Military Intervention, Consequences

Famous quotes containing the words battle of, battle and/or square:

    Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico, Jerico, Jerico,
    Joshua fit de battle ob Jerico,
    An’ de walls come tumblin’ down.
    —Unknown. Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho (l. 1–3)

    It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea: a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof below: but no pleasure is comparable to standing upon the vantage ground of truth ... and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below.
    Francis Bacon (1561–1626)

    A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled to, and less than that no man shall have.
    Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)