1919: The Boston Police Strike, organized by the American Federation of Labor (AFL), took place from September 9 to September 12. Approximately 1,117 members of the Boston Police Department went on strike to protest low pay and poor working conditions. The strike was suppressed by Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge, who mobilized the state militia and declared martial law. Several strikers were killed or injured during confrontations with police and militia units. The strike had a significant impact on labor relations in the United States, as it highlighted the tension between the rights of workers to organize and the authority of the government to maintain public order.