The Ludlow Massacre: America’s Forgotten Labor Tragedy | 6/12/25

This episode of At The Mic: Deep Dive with Keith Malinak brings you the raw, untold truth behind the Ludlow Massacre—one of the most violent and politically charged labor tragedies in American history.

In 1914, striking coal miners and their families—many of them immigrants—were living in tents after being evicted from company housing by John D. Rockefeller’s Colorado Fuel & Iron Company. When the National Guard opened fire and set the tent colony ablaze, 25 people died—including women and children who suffocated in a cellar beneath the flames.

Keith sits down with historian Dr. Fawn Amber Montoya to unpack:

• The brutal working and living conditions that led to the strike
• How language barriers were weaponized to prevent unionization
• The role of Rockefeller’s first-of-its-kind PR campaign to spin the massacre
• The legacy of Ludlow in shaping labor rights and union protections
• Why this tragedy still matters in today’s political and corporate landscape

Dr. Montoya shares personal and historical insights, stories of the survivors, and the cultural roots of Colorado’s forgotten ghost towns. From Native land disputes to modern worker rights, this conversation is an eye-opening look at power, propaganda, and human resilience.

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Ludlow Massacre

02:56 Historical Background of Labor and Immigration in America

06:03 The Rise of Coal Mining and Labor Conditions

08:55 The Role of Monopolies and Corporate Control

12:12 The Struggles of Immigrant Laborers

14:51 The Ludlow Tent Colony and the Strike

17:56 The National Guard's Involvement and Escalation of Tensions

21:12 The Harsh Winter and Its Impact on Strikers

23:50 The Events Leading to the Ludlow Massacre

26:51 The Aftermath and Legacy of the Ludlow Massacre

37:25 The Prelude to Violence: Tensions Rise

39:52 The Ludlow Massacre: A Day of Infamy

43:44 Media and Public Response: The Aftermath of Tragedy

46:05 The Ten-Day War: Escalation and Consequences

51:34 Legacy of the Ludlow Massacre: A Turning Point in Labor History

56:03 Public Relations and the Rockefeller Response

01:00:15 The Long-Term Impact on Labor Movements

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