November 11th, 1919 attack by American Legionnaires on the Centralia IWW hall, and the violence that followed
A deadly clash between American Legionnaires and IWW members in Centralia, Washington, fueled the First Red Scare and left a lasting dispute over blame.
Key Facts
- Date
- November 11, 1919
- Deaths
- 6 people
- Occasion
- First anniversary of Armistice Day parade
- Opposing parties
- American Legion vs. IWW (Wobblies)
- Presidential tribute
- Warren G. Harding honored fallen Legionnaires
- Legal outcome
- Trial with national media attention; multiple prison terms
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Centralia and neighboring Chehalis harbored deep tensions between a strong American Legion presence of World War I veterans and a significant IWW membership. Prior raids on IWW halls had created an atmosphere of mutual hostility, with each side suspicious of the other's intentions ahead of the Armistice Day parade.
On November 11, 1919, during a parade marking the first anniversary of Armistice Day, American Legionnaires attacked the Centralia IWW hall. IWW members, anticipating violence, opened fire in defense. The resulting confrontation left six people dead, others wounded, and numerous IWW members arrested.
The incident drew national media attention through a high-profile trial, contributed to the climate of the First Red Scare of 1919–1920, and generated a lasting martyrdom narrative for the IWW. Monuments and murals commemorating opposing sides were erected, and President Warren G. Harding formally paid tribute to the fallen Legionnaires.