Newspaper Article
- Title
- Fascist raids, jailings, unite workers for struggle
- In
- Guardian
- Imprint
- 9 July 1949
- Abstract
This article was published in the context of the imprisionment of Communist Leader Lance Sharkey, and a Communist lead coal miners Strike, which was to be violently repressed by the Chifley Labor Government.
It states the 'Not an ounce of coal until leaders freed, Act Repealed'.
In March 1949 Sharkey had told a Sydney journalist that if 'Soviet Forces in pursuit of aggressors entered Australia, Australian workers would welcome them'. He was tried in the Central Criminal Court and found guilty of uttering seditious words. The High Court of Australia upheld his conviction and in October he was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The term was later reduced and he served thirteen months.