Joe Hill was a labor activist who moved to Utah in 1913. Joe Hill was born Joe Hägglund in Gavle, Sweden, on October 7, 1879. He immigrated to New York City in 1902 and moved to Utah to work in the Silver King Mine in 1913. Hill brought many skills like political activism, hard work, and songwriting to the table.
In Short
Hill immigrated to the United States because he heard it was a land of economic opportunity. In fact, he was one of almost eight million immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island! However, he soon discovered that working conditions and the treatment of workers were very harsh. So, he decided to become a labor activist and worked with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)—also called the “Wobblies”—to improve working conditions for people across the United States.
More to the Story
Joe Hill arrived in the United States when he was 23 years old. At first, he found manual labor jobs in cities across the country. He experienced firsthand the harsh conditions that laborers, especially immigrants, faced working for businesses and corporations in America.
A Labor Activist
Hill disagreed with the unfair working conditions and wages. He joined a labor union named the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) to promote workers’ rights. Labor unions were organizations that started during the 1800s to help workers get better treatment. Many business owners did not like labor unions. Owners did not want to make their workplaces safer or to pay their employees a living wage. Labor unions used several strategies to challenge business owners to improve working conditions. The IWW was often called “radical,” “tough,” and sometimes “violent.”
As a labor activist, Hill wrote and performed songs and delivered speeches to help organize workers. His songs became famous! Workers and unions worldwide used them as they stood up for higher wages and better working conditions.
Hill in Utah
After Hill moved to Utah, he continued to promote labor unions and fight for workers’ rights. Hill lived alongside other immigrants from Scandinavia in Murray, Utah. He got along well with his community there. He was well-known for his labor activism.
The early 1900s saw much labor and union unrest. Workers believed they deserved more rights, and many capitalists did not want to grant them that. Sometimes the differences of opinion could be talked about peacefully, but other times both sides got so angry that they chose to respond violently. In 1914, Hill became the center of a scandal that gained worldwide attention.
Hill in Court
In 1914, someone killed a Salt Lake City store owner named John A. Morrison. The police decided that Hill had committed the act, and they arrested him. Hill went to trial, and the prosecution did not present enough evidence to convict him. Experts say that if the trial happened today, it would result in a mistrial. However, even though there was not much evidence to support the idea that Hill was responsible for Morrison’s death, the jury found him guilty, and the court ordered him to be executed.
International Protests
Joe Hill’s trial drew international attention. People from around the world did not believe that he was guilty. They thought that business owners wanted Hill to appear guilty so that workers wouldn’t be inspired by him anymore. Many people wrote letters asking for Hill’s pardon or forgiveness for the crime. Even President Woodrow Wilson encouraged the State of Utah to pardon Hill. However, Utah Governor William Spry did not change the ruling.
“Don’t mourn. Organize!”
Hill continued to encourage people to stand up for workers’ rights even when he was in prison. Right before he died, Hill said, “Don’t mourn. Organize!” Hill became a folk legend. Labor activists and workers still remember him as a hero and a labor martyr, and they use his songs to support their fight for better pay and working conditions.
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