In 1904, seven Chicago men founded the IWW — the only American union that welcomed all workers, regardless of background. With a rallying cry of “Workers of the world, unite!” they exploded in growth, building 900+ chapters across the U.S. and Canada by 1914. By 1913, they were in North Dakota, organizing farmworkers — only to ignite chaos: arrests, clashes, and conflicting reports of riots and police brutality. Farmers formed militias, protestors accused of faking mental illness to avoid charges, and by September, tensions peaked. Though the movement fizzled without legal precedent, the Minot unrest strained city resources, turned stockyards into jails, and ignited fierce debate over labor organizing and civil order.
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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/dakota-datebook/2026-09-18/september-18-labor-unrest-in-minot
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