The Battle of Algiers and the Strikes Against the Mandate

Writes Jerri Ward:

Lew,

I recently watched the old movie The Battle of Algiers. I couldn’t help but notice the parallels between the anti-mandate strikes and the general strike of the Algerian people against French oppression.  Below is the relevant clip from the movie.  The French progeny of Rosseau acted accordingly and responded to the freedom strike by breaking into shops, stealing goods, and physically forcing the men back to work on the docks to unload cargo. 

Today, the authoritarian left demonizes the strikers as the French demonized the Algerians. It wants to use the fist of the state to prosecute strikers for supposedly illegal labor tactics.  What’s next?  Pilots and others physically forced into labor?  I wouldn’t put it past them.

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