Today in Labor History June 19, 1937: The Women's Day Massacre. During the Great Ohio Steel Strike of 1937, there were numerous street battles between workers and police, including the Youngstown Riots and Poland Avenue Riot on June 21st. On June 19th, there were smaller battles that some believe were initiated by the cops to test the likely extent of union resistance in a real fight. When the cops in Youngstown couldn't find any union leaders to beat up, they went after women picketers who were sitting in chairs to support the strike. They fired tear gas and, when the women refused to leave, began firing live rounds at them, killing 2. Over the course of the entire strike, police killed 16 workers, many of whom were shot in the back as they ran away.