Jussi Merinen

Juho Rikard Merinen (20 October 187320 April 1918) was a Finnish trade unionist, politician and member of the Parliament of Finland, the national legislature of Finland. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he represented Turku Province North between May 1907 and July 1908. He was executed by the White Guard during the Finnish Civil War.

Early life Merinen was born on 20 October 1873 in Tyrvää. He was educated at folk school and Satakunta Agricultural Society's sculpture school. He worked as a carpenter and a farmhand in Tyrvää.

Trade unionism, politics and death The Stormi Workers' Association (Stormin työväenyhdistystä) was founded in May 1906. Merinen, together with his brother August Merinen and Kalle Tyrvää from Laukula, were the key figures behind the association and Jussi was its first chairman. He also contested the 1908, 1913 and 1917 parliamentary elections.

Following the outbreak of the Finnish Civil War, the local branch of the social democrats took over the function of the local municipal council. In September 2018 a new monument to 527 Reds killed in the civil war, including Merinen, was inaugurated at Tyrvää Church.