Sit-Down

John L. Lewis, in his outer raiment.
John L. Lewis, in his outer raiment.
From the sit-down strike in Flint, 1937:

[Michigan Governor Frank] Murphy decided to ask John L. Lewis what he would do if he sent in the troops. Lewis’s reply: “You want my answer sir? I shall personally enter GM Plant Number Two. I shall order the men to disregard your order, to stand fast. I shall walk up to the largest window in the plant, open it, divest myself of my outer raiment, remove my shirt and bare my bosom. Then, when you order your troops to fire, mine will be the first breast that your bullets will strike. And as my body falls from the window to the ground, you will listen to the voice of your grandfather, as he whispers in your ear, ‘Frank, are you sure you are doing the right thing?'” Murphy hesitated: his grandfather had been hanged after an Irish uprising.