On November 18, 2023, The Central Utah Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, led an unveiling ceremony for the Joe Hill Monument in Sugar House Park.
Joe Hill was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Works of the World (IWW). Some of his songs include:
"There is Power in A Union"
"The Preacher and the Slave"
"Pie in the Sky"
"There is Power in a Union"
"The Rebel Girl"
"Casey Jones-the Union Scab"
The marker “will stand as a symbol of his enduring spirit and will serve as a reminder of the power of collective action,” its organizers say
In 1914, Hill was convicted in a controversial trial and executed in November 1915 at Utah's Sugar House Prison. Before his execution, Hill wrote to the IWW leader, saying, "...I die like a true blue rebel. Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize ... Could you arrange to have my body hauled to the state line to be buried? I don't want to be found dead in Utah."
There continue to be debates and controversy on Joe Hill's innocence, but he still inspires activists worldwide. The historical marker comes 108 years after his execution.
In 2015, the 100th anniversary of his execution, The Salt Lake Tribune examined his life and legacy in an online investigation. Read it here.