The Greek immigrant Louis Tikas born in Crete, Greece as Elias Spantidakis was the main labor union organizer at the Ludlow camp during a 14-month coal strike in southern Colorado from 1913–1914. On April 20, 1914, Tikas along with 19 other Greeks were murdered in cold blood by Colorado National Guard and camp guards of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, which was owned by John D. Rockefeller.
Tikas has a prominent place in the pantheon of the heroes of the American working class. Colorado trade unions have honored him with a statue which has been declared as a national historic site. A memorial located at Ludlow, provides information on the life and murder of Tikas and many other trade unionists who lost their life in Ludlow valley.
The trade unions of Colorado, as part of the events for the celebration of Labor Day will lay a wreath at the statue of the Greek miner. The completion of one century from the Ludlow massacre is honored by the unions of Colorado and other regional and pan-American organizations with a series of 24 events, which began on February 25, including, “Louis Tikas Evening” in the theater of Denver on March 15 and a memorial service in the Greek Orthodox Church of the area on April 20. On May 1, a commemorative event will be held in Ludlow Memorial while six other events will take place in May.
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