Today in Labor History: Picketing declared unconstitutional

On this day in 1921 the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice William Howard  Taft, declared that picketing was unconstitutional, claiming it was “an unlawful annoyance and hurtful nuisance.”

Taft was the 27th president. Taft served in the Supreme Court after his one-term presidency. Taft founded the Chamber of Commerce to counter the growing labor movement. Taft was an avid supporter of Booker T. Washington’s accommodationist policy.

Photo: Kheel Center, Cornell University // CC 2.0