Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello will take part in Marseilles historic marker unveiling

Unemployed local laborers marched on the Marseilles Dam on July 19, 1932, a million dollar project at the time built using non-union, out-of-state labor despite capable workers living in the communities the dam would most effect.

The protest turned into a riot and workmen fired into the crowd, leading to the death of Steve Sutton, a 45-year-old father of four from Joliet.

David Raikes, a retired business manager for Laborers Local 393, said placing a historic marker and hosting a commemoration was to be set for last year but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays.

The delays ended up being a blessing: In the time since the virus began, Rage Against the Machine guitarist and former Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, who has Marseilles ties, penned an essay in the New York Times about the 1932 protest.

“We wanted (Tom Morello) to be part of this because he’s showed so much interest,” Raikes said. “It’s working out now and it’s coming all together right now. We’re in the planning stages but we’re going to have this thing ready by April 28.”

Tom Morello performs as The Nightwatchmen in May 2006. Morello will perform in Marseilles at a commemoration event for a historical marker. — Tom Morello performs as The Nightwatchmen in May 2006. Morello wrote the 2008 song “Night Falls” about “Big Steve” Sutton, as he’s referred to in a July 19, 1932, article of the Ottawa Republican-Times. A historic marker is planned to be unveiled April 28 for Sutton and Morello is planning to participate in the ceremony. (Wikpedia)

Morello wrote the 2008 song “Night Falls” about “Big Steve” Sutton, as he’s referred to in a July 19, 1932, article of the Ottawa Republican-Times.

“The workers weren’t even from Illinois,” Raikes said. “There was about 150 workers on the project and they wouldn’t hire any laborers. The area guys, about 300 of them, they started working their way out there and the company put a fence around the whole project.”

Morello’s mother, Mary, was born in Marseilles in 1923 and is an activist. Tom Morello has been known to leave flowers at the Radium Girls statue in Ottawa.

Sutton and the union men attacked that night will be commemorated with a ceremony 5 p.m. on Workers Memorial Day, April 28, in Marseilles.

Raikes told the Marseilles City Council some concerns still remain on logistics, such as what will be used for a stage. The marker, though, is going at the corner of Main and Mill streets and will feature new landscaping around it. The marker will cost about $5,000.

“We want it to be something classy and dignified, something that represents ourselves,” Raikes said.

Raikes said the committee involved with placing the marker meets again Thursday, and more details about logistics will be released as they are known.