Virden in history

While I was away in Rome, a friend sent a notice to me about the town of Virden, of which I am now pastor, in history.

Apparently on 12 October 1898, Virden was the site of a riot involving the coal mines, which apparently resulted in the 8-hour working day. This from Britannica:

African American workers from Alabama who were hired by the Chicago-Virden Coal Company in an attempt to break a strike by local workers affiliated with the United Mine Workers of America. Some 15 people (mostly local miners and guards hired to protect the train carrying the arriving workers) died. The city was under martial law for several days, and the union movement credited the incident as an important milestone, especially in the winning of the eight-hour day.

This might explain a bronze bas relief down in the square.

Can anyone offer more information on this?