Biography
John Merila was arrested when the sheriff and copper-company gunmen twice attacked an antiwar parade of 1,500 workers at Hancock, Michigan. The Daily Worker of August 10, 1933, page 4, datelined August 9, identifies Richard Hivonen, Carl Saari and John Merila as the three arrested at the parade held the preceding Sunday (August 6). It says the fire department used a hose against marchers and several workers were beaten. The article also reports that Merila was beaten in jail. No individual charge, sentence or release date is supplied.
