The Forgotten American Massacre Rockefeller Tried to Bury | 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.
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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
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
