B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
@braegrosz.com
She/They. Greyromantic. Aspiring bog body. Writer. You can support my work via https://ko-fi.com/braegrosz.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
It can be dispiriting to look back, to be aware of how history repeats, and feel frustrated that we haven’t come further. But what I take away from remembering these things is a reminder that the battles won were only won by continuing to fight, despite losses.
January 12, 2026 at 12:29 AM
It can be dispiriting to look back, to be aware of how history repeats, and feel frustrated that we haven’t come further. But what I take away from remembering these things is a reminder that the battles won were only won by continuing to fight, despite losses.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
John Barcoski was a miner who had immigrated from Poland to the USA in 1906. He worked for the Pittsburgh Coal Company and he was in the union.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
January 11, 2026 at 7:52 PM
John Barcoski was a miner who had immigrated from Poland to the USA in 1906. He worked for the Pittsburgh Coal Company and he was in the union.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
In 1914, while working to unionize miners in West Virginia, Fannie was arrested.
“I am free and have a right to talk or walk any place in this country as long as I obey the law,” she said. “I have done nothing wrong.”
The UMWA circulated postcards with a photo of her in prison, looking unbothered.
“I am free and have a right to talk or walk any place in this country as long as I obey the law,” she said. “I have done nothing wrong.”
The UMWA circulated postcards with a photo of her in prison, looking unbothered.
January 11, 2026 at 12:31 AM
In 1914, while working to unionize miners in West Virginia, Fannie was arrested.
“I am free and have a right to talk or walk any place in this country as long as I obey the law,” she said. “I have done nothing wrong.”
The UMWA circulated postcards with a photo of her in prison, looking unbothered.
“I am free and have a right to talk or walk any place in this country as long as I obey the law,” she said. “I have done nothing wrong.”
The UMWA circulated postcards with a photo of her in prison, looking unbothered.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
Because men with wealth and power say freedom is when no one can take what you have, so you can only be free if you fight for their right to keep what they have. And if you protect their wealth and power well enough, they’ll give you a little of your own.
January 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Because men with wealth and power say freedom is when no one can take what you have, so you can only be free if you fight for their right to keep what they have. And if you protect their wealth and power well enough, they’ll give you a little of your own.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
The gist — in 1919, they murdered Fannie Sellins for daring to object to them murdering Joseph Starzeleski. And they were allowed to get away with it, because they said it was her own fault, claimed she started a riot.
January 10, 2026 at 11:32 AM
The gist — in 1919, they murdered Fannie Sellins for daring to object to them murdering Joseph Starzeleski. And they were allowed to get away with it, because they said it was her own fault, claimed she started a riot.
Reposted by B. Rae “Rusty” Grosz
Vex Corvine, goth, suspected vampire, probable amorphous corvid creature, and purveyor of queer antifash monster novels needs support for hir top surgery. Please help out by donating, sharing, and purchasing hir works please!
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#MutualAid #Helpsky #Trans #TransSupportMA 💸💕🏳️⚧️🖤
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#MutualAid #Helpsky #Trans #TransSupportMA 💸💕🏳️⚧️🖤
popping up to say I've been SUCH a brave little toaster this summer that I feel it's okay to shyly slide this onto the skyline, just in case (please remember those who need help more urgently, and so on)
Donate to Jess Corvine's Top Surgery, organized by Jess Corvine
I'm a trans person living in Sweden, someone for whom trans healthcare in this country is a cr… Jess Corvine needs your support for Jess Corvine's Top Surgery
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July 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Vex Corvine, goth, suspected vampire, probable amorphous corvid creature, and purveyor of queer antifash monster novels needs support for hir top surgery. Please help out by donating, sharing, and purchasing hir works please!
bsky.app/profile/vexc...
#MutualAid #Helpsky #Trans #TransSupportMA 💸💕🏳️⚧️🖤
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#MutualAid #Helpsky #Trans #TransSupportMA 💸💕🏳️⚧️🖤
In conclusion:
Don’t give up. That’s what they want.
All cops are class traitors. Defund the police. Abolish ICE.
And eat the rich (preferably seasoned with paprika).
End overly long 🧵
Don’t give up. That’s what they want.
All cops are class traitors. Defund the police. Abolish ICE.
And eat the rich (preferably seasoned with paprika).
End overly long 🧵
January 12, 2026 at 12:53 AM
In conclusion:
Don’t give up. That’s what they want.
All cops are class traitors. Defund the police. Abolish ICE.
And eat the rich (preferably seasoned with paprika).
End overly long 🧵
Don’t give up. That’s what they want.
All cops are class traitors. Defund the police. Abolish ICE.
And eat the rich (preferably seasoned with paprika).
End overly long 🧵
It can be dispiriting to look back, to be aware of how history repeats, and feel frustrated that we haven’t come further. But what I take away from remembering these things is a reminder that the battles won were only won by continuing to fight, despite losses.
January 12, 2026 at 12:29 AM
It can be dispiriting to look back, to be aware of how history repeats, and feel frustrated that we haven’t come further. But what I take away from remembering these things is a reminder that the battles won were only won by continuing to fight, despite losses.
When I posted this, I had no intention of writing a thread, never mind such a long one. But here we are.
For reasons that absolutely definitely don’t have anything at all to do with current events, I find myself thinking about the Coal & Iron Police and all the immigrants and other people they terrorized and murdered.
January 12, 2026 at 12:10 AM
When I posted this, I had no intention of writing a thread, never mind such a long one. But here we are.
Black Fury (1935) is largely a disappointment, but it did spark conversation.
It also contributed to the passage of a bill which repealed the Industrial Police Act and made it illegal for companies to employ private police.
It also contributed to the passage of a bill which repealed the Industrial Police Act and made it illegal for companies to employ private police.
January 11, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Black Fury (1935) is largely a disappointment, but it did spark conversation.
It also contributed to the passage of a bill which repealed the Industrial Police Act and made it illegal for companies to employ private police.
It also contributed to the passage of a bill which repealed the Industrial Police Act and made it illegal for companies to employ private police.
However, when some places threatened to ban the film unless the murder by the Coal and Iron Police was removed, Musmanno countered with a threat of suing. It worked. The murder remained. And the controversy was used by theaters to hype the film and sell tickets.
January 11, 2026 at 11:30 PM
However, when some places threatened to ban the film unless the murder by the Coal and Iron Police was removed, Musmanno countered with a threat of suing. It worked. The murder remained. And the controversy was used by theaters to hype the film and sell tickets.
Eventually, “Jan Volkanik” was combined with Harry R. Irving’s play Bohunk and adapted into the 1935 film Black Fury, starring Paul Muni. Muni advised Musmanno that Hollywood would never make a film with the activist zeal of the short story, so the story was significantly toned down and censored.
January 11, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Eventually, “Jan Volkanik” was combined with Harry R. Irving’s play Bohunk and adapted into the 1935 film Black Fury, starring Paul Muni. Muni advised Musmanno that Hollywood would never make a film with the activist zeal of the short story, so the story was significantly toned down and censored.
Musmanno’s mission was better served by work outside the spotlight, making sure Governor Gifford Pinchot didn’t think the C&I problem resolved.
In 1931, Pinchot allowed the Coal & Iron Police commission to expire and didn’t renew it. His statement on the decision referenced the murder of Barcoski.
In 1931, Pinchot allowed the Coal & Iron Police commission to expire and didn’t renew it. His statement on the decision referenced the murder of Barcoski.
January 11, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Musmanno’s mission was better served by work outside the spotlight, making sure Governor Gifford Pinchot didn’t think the C&I problem resolved.
In 1931, Pinchot allowed the Coal & Iron Police commission to expire and didn’t renew it. His statement on the decision referenced the murder of Barcoski.
In 1931, Pinchot allowed the Coal & Iron Police commission to expire and didn’t renew it. His statement on the decision referenced the murder of Barcoski.
But though Governor Fisher signed a bill that was introduced by another lawmaker, limiting the Coal & Iron Police’s jurisdiction, he vetoed Musmanno’s bill to abolish the C&I.
Musmanno’s short story “Jan Volkanik,” inspired by the murder of Barcoski, didn’t change the world either.
Musmanno’s short story “Jan Volkanik,” inspired by the murder of Barcoski, didn’t change the world either.
January 11, 2026 at 10:01 PM
But though Governor Fisher signed a bill that was introduced by another lawmaker, limiting the Coal & Iron Police’s jurisdiction, he vetoed Musmanno’s bill to abolish the C&I.
Musmanno’s short story “Jan Volkanik,” inspired by the murder of Barcoski, didn’t change the world either.
Musmanno’s short story “Jan Volkanik,” inspired by the murder of Barcoski, didn’t change the world either.
The murder of John Barcoski and the failure to bring the individuals responsible to justice only increased public opinion that something must be done about the Coal & Iron Police as a whole.
Pennsylvania state legislator Michael Musmanno made it his mission.
Pennsylvania state legislator Michael Musmanno made it his mission.
January 11, 2026 at 8:57 PM
The murder of John Barcoski and the failure to bring the individuals responsible to justice only increased public opinion that something must be done about the Coal & Iron Police as a whole.
Pennsylvania state legislator Michael Musmanno made it his mission.
Pennsylvania state legislator Michael Musmanno made it his mission.
In 1928, the ACLU reported that “more police violence, brutality, violations of civil rights… exist in Pennsylvania today than in any other state of the Union.” A strike at Pittsburgh Coal Co. ended in December and was followed by newspaper speculation about investigating the conduct of the C&I.
January 11, 2026 at 8:48 PM
In 1928, the ACLU reported that “more police violence, brutality, violations of civil rights… exist in Pennsylvania today than in any other state of the Union.” A strike at Pittsburgh Coal Co. ended in December and was followed by newspaper speculation about investigating the conduct of the C&I.
In 1919, the Coal & Iron Police had been able to take advantage of the first Red Scare, divided opinion of active strikes, and the postwar attitude that would come to be represented by Harding’s slogan “return to normalcy.”
In 1929, the public was skeptical of the C&I even before Barcoski’s death.
In 1929, the public was skeptical of the C&I even before Barcoski’s death.
January 11, 2026 at 8:48 PM
In 1919, the Coal & Iron Police had been able to take advantage of the first Red Scare, divided opinion of active strikes, and the postwar attitude that would come to be represented by Harding’s slogan “return to normalcy.”
In 1929, the public was skeptical of the C&I even before Barcoski’s death.
In 1929, the public was skeptical of the C&I even before Barcoski’s death.
As with Fannie Sellins, the Coal & Iron Police claimed self-defense, in contradiction to the testimony of eyewitnesses, and the jury went with the lie.
The District Attorney denounced the jury as “incompetent and without moral stamina.” The judge agreed with him.
Many others agreed too.
The District Attorney denounced the jury as “incompetent and without moral stamina.” The judge agreed with him.
Many others agreed too.
January 11, 2026 at 7:52 PM
As with Fannie Sellins, the Coal & Iron Police claimed self-defense, in contradiction to the testimony of eyewitnesses, and the jury went with the lie.
The District Attorney denounced the jury as “incompetent and without moral stamina.” The judge agreed with him.
Many others agreed too.
The District Attorney denounced the jury as “incompetent and without moral stamina.” The judge agreed with him.
Many others agreed too.
John Barcoski was a miner who had immigrated from Poland to the USA in 1906. He worked for the Pittsburgh Coal Company and he was in the union.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
January 11, 2026 at 7:52 PM
John Barcoski was a miner who had immigrated from Poland to the USA in 1906. He worked for the Pittsburgh Coal Company and he was in the union.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
On the evening of February 9th, 1929, he was severely beaten by Coal & Iron Police officers and died in hospital the following morning.
The formation of the Pennsylvania State Police in 1905 was motivated partially by public pressure to replace the Coal & Iron Police.
But, of course, the C&I continued to operate, often in collaboration with other police forces.
And then, in 1929, they committed yet another murder.
But, of course, the C&I continued to operate, often in collaboration with other police forces.
And then, in 1929, they committed yet another murder.
January 11, 2026 at 7:16 PM
The formation of the Pennsylvania State Police in 1905 was motivated partially by public pressure to replace the Coal & Iron Police.
But, of course, the C&I continued to operate, often in collaboration with other police forces.
And then, in 1929, they committed yet another murder.
But, of course, the C&I continued to operate, often in collaboration with other police forces.
And then, in 1929, they committed yet another murder.