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Today in Labor History May 23, 1934: The "Battle of Toledo" erupted when sheriffs' arrested picket leaders at the Auto-Lite plant in Toledo, Ohio, and beat an old man. 10,000 strikers blockaded the plant for seven hours, preventing strikebreakers from leaving. Ultimately, the crowd was broken up with tear gas and water cannons. The National Guard was called in the following day. The strikers held their ground against the troops, who shot and killed two of their members and wounded 15 others. The strike lasted from April 12 to June 3. The American Workers Party, led by Marxist A.J. Muste, supported the strikers. On June 2, the union and management came to an agreement, that included union recognition and a 5% raise, but only after the threat of a General Strike.