The Palmer Raids

On November 7th, 1919, the FBI began raiding union halls across the US, many of which were burned to the ground by patriotic World War 1 veterans, organized under the banner of the American Legion.  In this first nationwide raid conducted by the country's new national police force (which is what the FBI is) and their volunteer thugs, most of the leadership of the Industrial Workers of the World were arrested and imprisoned, thousands of members of this immigrant-led union were deported, and untold numbers were beaten, lynched or shot in the ensuing days of anti-union carnage.