1902 Paterson silk dyers strike

At the turn of the 20th century, Italians were the predominant immigrant nationality in Paterson's silk industry.

The silk dyers' helpers, an unskilled trade, were mainly from southern Italy and formed the center of Paterson's Italian community.

The Paterson Italian community was willing to defend itself against anti-Italian prejudices of the public and police, even if it meant resorting to violence.

[3] Though the strike was waning by June, thousands of workers attended a rally on June 18 in Belmont Park, in Haledon, New Jersey, with speakers including Luigi Galleani, William MacQueen, and Rudolf Grossmann.

Paterson declared martial law and brought in the National Guard, ending both the riots and the strike.