On Labor Day (or Any Day): You Can Watch My "Massacre" Film

Plus unionist music from John Lennon, The Clash, Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Paul Robeson, Our Native Daughters

"Riveting, moving, infuriating and ultimately inspiring." -- Nina Bernstein, longtime investigative reporter, The New York Times

The acclaimed new film that I wrote and directed, Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried, premiered over many PBS stations back in May but is airing over many more, including in L.A. and Chicago, on or around Labor Day (check your local listings, as they say). And now everyone everywhere can view it online or streaming. Simply go to the main site for the film, where you can also read background and see early responses from notables. Or go to the host station, KCET, or to the main PBS.org site or PBS apps (even on Apple TV).

It runs 27 minutes and is introduced by Studs Terkel, narrated by actor Josh Charles, produced by Lyn Goldfarb. My second PBS film in past eight months, plus Atomic Cover-up is coming in November.

And the companion book, my 13th, with same title has now been published as both paperback ($12.95) and e-book ($3.99) at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s the first oral history and features everyone from wounded strikers to observers Studs Terkel, Gore Vidal, Howard Zinn, Dorothy Day, John Hope Franklin, even Ayn Rand, and more.

Briefly: Chicago police shot 40 steel strikers and supporters (mainly in the back) and killed ten in 1937—and then the only footage of it, from Paramount News, was suppressed until a famed investigative reporter and crusading U.S. senator brought it to light. Still, no police were punished. The lessons and effects remain strong today as union activity surges again.

Reminder: here’s the site for the film with two dozen raves from various notables who have seen it, ranging from David Maraniss and Rick Perlstein to directors Rod Lurie, Oliver Stone and Sarah Kernochan and singer-songwriter Allison Russell. And 2-minute trailer. My latest of several articles related to film and book. A new Mother Jones piece coming on Monday. My segment on Democracy Now! here.

"Stunning." -- Rick Perlstein, bestselling author of Nixonland, Reaganland, and other books

"Excellent…this is Oscar-level stuff.” -- Rod Lurie, director of The Outpost, The Contender and other movies

"So important. Another piece of forgotten history and lesson in the manipulation of truth." --David Maraniss, author of bestseller Path Lit by Lightning, biographies of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and other books

“A devastating documentary.  This film is so good.” — Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!

“An important part of our Steelworkers history.”–United Steelworkers Union

And a few apt songs below…

A surprising “Solidary Forever” by Leonard Cohen at a soundcheck.

John Lennon, “Working Class Hero”

The Clash, “Clampdown”

Johnny Cash, “John Henry”

Great live performance by Richard, Levon and The Band, of “King Harvest”

Bruce visits “Youngstown,” where steel strike mentioned in my film and book.

Speaking of John Henry: Our Native Daughters, “Polly Ann’s Hammer”

Paul Robeson’s immortal “Joe Hill,” live.

Woody’s “Union Burying Ground,” all too busy in 1930s.