Book reading by David Walters
Eugene Debs is one of the most important working class leaders in the history of the United States, yet most working people have never heard of him. He was in the 1877 national railway strike and later formed the American Railway Workers Union ARU. He organized the Pullman strike and was charged by the government for defying a court injunction against the strike. He was convicted and served 6 months in prison.
Debs was a IWW member, and while in prison became a socialist, and formed the Socialist Party of America. In 1912, he also went to jail for opposing the First World War, and while in prison ran for president and received 6 % of the vote.