The history of the raised fist, a global symbol of fighting oppression
![George Floyd Memorial - A young man and woman hug each other in shared grief while the woman raises a fist.](https://moderntraditional.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/george-floyd-memorial_16x9.jpg)
The forceful salute is intertwined with some of the 20th century’s most tumultuous events, including conflicts with fascism.
One of the earliest known instances in the U.S. of a protester brandishing a raised fist occurred in 1913, when “Big Bill” Haywood spoke to strikers during the Paterson silk strike in New Jersey. Haywood, a founding member of the union Industrial Workers of the World, preached working-class solidarity across all races and trades. Source:…