Today in Labor History November 27, 1835: The British authorities hanged James Pratt and John Smith in London. The British stopped executing people for sodomy after this.
Today in Labor History November 27, 1868: Ignoring orders to kill only warriors, an Army contingent, led by General Custer, massacred at least 150 Cheyenne in their sleep, including women and children. During the Battle of the Washita, in Oklahoma Territory Custer‘s 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked Black Kettle‘s Southern Cheyenne camp. However, Black Kettle and his people had been at peace and were seeking peace with the U.S.
November 27, 1937: The ILGWU-commissioned musical “Pins & Needles” opened on Broadway, with a cast made up entirely of International Lady Garment Worker Union members. They rehearsed at night and on weekends so they wouldn’t be fired. In 1962, a 25th anniversary edition of the score was released featuring Barbra Streisand.
November 27, 1978: Former cop and supervisor Dan White assassinated San Francisco’s mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk. A jury later acquitted White on the Twinkie Defense, the claim that he had gone temporarily insane from junk food. This led to the White Night Riot.