On May 4, 1886, a bomb exploded during a labor demonstration near Haymarket Square. The ensuing gunfire and chaos brought a grisly end to what began as peaceful support for an eight-hour workday and led to the trial and execution of rally organizers. The incident also drew irrevocable attention to a conversation about workers' rights and the role of law enforcement that continues today. In this guide to the key moments and sites of one of Chicago's most confusing and chaotic events, author Joseph Anthony Rulli aims to establish a clearer understanding of its historical significance.
Joseph Anthony Rulli, a transplanted Hoosier from South Bend, Indiana, began writing fiction shortly after his arrival in his second city. He has one published short story and a play that was performed on stage in the spring of 2016. This is his first published work of nonfiction.