Reel

Biography of U.S. labor leader John L. Lewis.

Scene outside General Motors (GM) plant in Flint, Michigan, during sit-down strike by laborers organized by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, Dec 1936- Feb 1937; tilting low angle TLS striking workers leaning outside open factory windows, waving; MS striking workers sitting and reading or sleeping on factory floor. Unshaven workers crossing days off on calendar. MS "100 % Sit-Down" flag. Women marching in support of strikers outside factory. Strike supporters bringing food. Woman being shoved by police officer, woman yelling angrily. Police officers dragging away supporters. Cops using fire hoses to quell scene, one man throwing rock at cops. Men and women smashing windows of factory, one man twice throwing smoke bomb into facility. Panning TLS two white male National Guard soldiers riding on rails of passenger car. Trucks carrying National Guard arriving at factory. Panning soldiers marching, carrying Browning M1917 heavy machine gun on tripod. Soldiers tearing down platform. Two soldiers at sniper perch atop building.

John L. Lewis standing before several microphones.

Governor of Michigan Frank Murphy. Gov Frank Murphy seated at desk. John L. Lewis sitting in office with Gov Frank Murphy and GM representative. Frank Murphy watching as Mr. Lewis shakes hands with GM rep.

Panning MS smiling young white men reading newspaper "Strike Ends." LS celebration outside GM plant, banner reading, "Victory is Ours" hanging from building. CU white man smiling, peeking through broken plant window. MCU young white man kissing young white woman. MS/CUs white men kissing babies, children following strike. White male laborers walking happily, holding aloft white man while marching outside Chevrolet Motor Company factory in Detroit, Michigan, United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 34. MS middle-aged white man wearing overalls while dancing jig for happy crowd, man in business suit eventually joining in.

Massive crowd gathered in streets of downtown Detroit after resolution to General Motors Sit-Down strike of 1937.

Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) President John L Lewis working at desk, writing. John L. Lewis looking confidently into camera.