Ford Hunger March facts for kids

The Ford Hunger March, sometimes called the Ford Massacre, was a protest that happened on March 7, 1932. It involved unemployed car workers in Detroit, Michigan, during a very tough time called the Great Depression.

The march started in Detroit and ended in Dearborn, Michigan. There, a sad event happened: four workers were shot and killed by the Dearborn Police Department and security guards who worked for the Ford Motor Company. More than 60 workers were hurt, many by gunshots. Three months later, another worker died from his injuries.

This march was supported by groups called the Unemployed Councils, which were connected to the Communist Party USA. It was a very important event that helped lead to workers forming unions in the U.S. car industry.

What Led to the March?

In the 1920s, the car industry brought a lot of wealth to the Detroit area. In 1929, car companies made over 5 million vehicles. Many people were buying their first cars.

But on October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed. This started the Great Depression. Car production dropped a lot. In 1930, it fell to 3.3 million cars. By 1931, it was only 1.3 million cars. This was just a quarter of what it was two years before.

Because of this, many people in Detroit lost their jobs. Those who still worked had their pay cut. In 1929, car workers earned about $1639 a year. By 1931, this dropped by more than half to $757. By 1932, about 400,000 people in Michigan had no jobs.

In 1931, the money given to people needing help was very small: only 15 cents per person each day. Back then, the government did not offer unemployment help or Social Security. Many banks closed, and people lost all their savings. By 1932, many homes were taken by banks, and people were forced out. It was a very hard time for everyone.

The Hunger March Begins

The Detroit Unemployed Council and the Auto, Aircraft and Vehicle Workers of America called for a march. It was planned for Monday, March 7, 1932. The march would go from Detroit to Dearborn. It would end at the Ford River Rouge Complex, which was Ford's biggest factory.

The main people organizing the march were Albert Goetz and John Schmies. They wanted to give 14 demands to Henry Ford, the head of the Ford Motor Company. These demands included rehiring jobless workers. They also asked for money for healthcare. Other demands were to stop unfair treatment based on race. They wanted winter fuel for the unemployed. They also asked to stop company spies and private police. And they wanted workers to have the right to form unions.

March 7 was a very cold day in Detroit. About 3,000 to 5,000 people gathered near Dearborn. This was about a mile from the Ford factory. Marchers carried signs that said "Give Us Work" and "We Want Bread Not Crumbs." Albert Goetz told the marchers to avoid violence. The march was peaceful as it moved through Detroit.

Confrontation at Dearborn

When the march reached the Dearborn city limits, the Dearborn police tried to stop it. They fired tear gas into the crowd. They also hit marchers with clubs. One officer even fired a gun. The crowd, who had no weapons, scattered. They picked up stones from a nearby field. Then they threw them at the police.

The marchers regrouped and moved closer to the factory. Two fire engines sprayed cold water on them from an overpass. Ford security guards joined the police. They started shooting into the crowd. Three marchers, Joe York, Coleman Leny, and Joe DeBlasio, were killed. At least 22 others were hurt by gunshots.

The march leaders decided to stop the march and retreat. Harry Bennett, who was in charge of Ford security, drove up in a car. He fired a pistol into the crowd. People threw rocks at his car, and Bennett was injured. He got out of his car and kept shooting at the retreating marchers. Dearborn police and Ford security then used machine guns on the workers. Joe Bussell, who was only 16 years old, was killed. Many more people were hurt.

About 25 Dearborn police officers were injured by thrown rocks. But none were hurt by gunfire.

What Happened Next?

All the seriously injured marchers were arrested. Many were chained to their hospital beds. No police or Ford security officers were arrested. Yet, reports showed they had done all the shooting. This caused deaths and injuries. The New York Times reported that Dearborn streets were covered in blood. Windows at the Ford plant were broken.

The next day, Detroit newspapers reported wrong stories. They said Harry Bennett and four policemen had been shot. They blamed the marchers. But in the following days, the newspapers learned more. They changed their tone. They started to blame the police and Ford security for the deaths.

The Detroit Federation of Labor, a union group, spoke out. They said the killings were "a disgrace."

On March 12, a huge crowd came together. Between 25,000 and 60,000 people attended a funeral. The four dead marchers were buried side by side in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit.

Detroit Mayor Frank Murphy criticized the police for chaining injured people to beds. He also called Harry Bennett an "inhuman brute." He questioned the difference between the police and Ford's guards.

Three months later, a fifth marcher, Curtis Williams, died from his injuries. He was African American. He could not be buried in Woodmere Cemetery because it was only for white people then. His family had him cremated. His ashes were scattered near the graves of his fellow marchers.

Nine years later, in 1941, the economy was better. After a ten-day strike by 40,000 Ford workers, Henry Ford finally agreed to work with the United Auto Workers union.

Grand Jury Report

A group called a grand jury looked into the violence. They finished their investigation in June. They said they found no legal reason to charge anyone. They felt the marchers acted without thinking. But they also said the Dearborn police could have handled things better. They believed the police were trying to do their duty.

One person on the grand jury disagreed. She said the investigation was unfair. She felt the prosecutors showed a lot of prejudice. This influenced the other jurors.

Finding More Information

You can find photos of the march and funerals at the website of the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University.

There is also a film about the march. It was made by the Workers Film and Photo League of Detroit.