Peking-Hankou Strike of 1923

a political strike by the workers of the Peking-Hank’ou railroad that was led by the Chinese Communists and lasted from February 4 to February 9. The strike broke out in protest against the arbitrary power of General Wu P’ei-fu, on whose orders the constituent convention of the Peking-Hank’ou railroad workers’ union was dispersed. On February 4, movement on the railroad halted, and the workers held mass meetings and demonstrations. Beginning on February 7, Wu P’ei-fu’s troops responded with cruel reprisals against the workers at Chiangnan, Ch’anghsintien, and other stations. About 40 persons were killed, and many wounded. The Peking-Hank’ou strike was the first open and independent protest by Chinese workers against the militarist regime.