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1885: Lucy Parsons sez: "Let us kill them without mercy, and let it be a war of extermination and without pity"

1885: Lucy Parsons sez: "Let us kill them without mercy, and let it be a war of extermination and without pity"

Stumbled on this reddit thread that answered a question I'd had myself but never actually looked into.

Looking for primary source on Lucy Parsons quote: “Let every dirty, lousy tramp arm himself with a revolver or a knife, and lay in wait on the steps of the palaces of the rich and stab or shoot the owners as they come out.” - r/Anarchism

Answer was found: Chicago Tribune - Thu, May 7, 1885 - Page 3

Citizoness [Lucy] Parsons, however, had a plan at once startling, unique and redolent with gore.

"Let every dirty, lousy tramp arm himself with a revolver or knife and lay in wait on the steps of the palaces of the rich and stab or shoot the owners as they come out. Let us kill them without mercy, and let it be a war of extermination and without pity. Let us devastate the avenues where the wealthy live as Sheridan devastated the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah."

Citizen [Albert] Parsons then read some resolutions of sympathy with the Lemont strikers denouncing the militia, etc., after which the conclave went into secret session for the transaction of private business. There were three women present last night.

(Side note: What a time when a socialist meeting of 50 people is reported upon in the Tribune.)

According to Utah Phillips she never got too old to issue this advice.

Class War UK used it for their second issue, published in 1984:

(Full 4 page tabloid PDF of this issue available at The Sparrows' Nest Library and Archive)

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