"Then hang us! Here we will tread upon a spark, but there, and there, and behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames will blaze up."
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August Spies was born on December 10, 1855, in Landeck, Solling, Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1872 and lived in Chicago, where he became a political radical and labor activist. Spies was a prominent figure in the Chicago labor movement and was closely associated with the International Working People's Association. He was arrested in 1886 following the Haymarket Square Riot, a confrontation between police and labor protesters in which a bomb was thrown by an unidentified person. Although there was no evidence directly linking Spies to the bombing, he was tried and executed along with three other labor activists.
During his lifetime, Spies wrote extensively about labor rights and social revolution. He believed in the principles of anarchism and advocated for the organization of labor and the overthrow of oppressive systems of government. Even after his arrest and during the trial, he continued to speak out about the rights of workers and became known for his 'Address to the Court' speech. His writings and activism had a significant impact on the anarchist movement, and he became a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights. The Haymarket Riot and its aftermath sparked a nationwide debate about labor rights and the role of radical political ideologies in the struggle for social change.
Date of Birth: December 10, 1855
Date of Death: November 11, 1887
Country of Birth: Germany 
Political Ideas: Freedom, Labor Rights, Social Revolution
Quotes Available: 4
