Englewood race riot
Englewood race riot | |||
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Date | November 8 - 12, 1949 | ||
Location | rock throwing | ||
Parties | |||
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Number | |||
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Casualties | |||
Injuries | 13+ |
The Englewood race riot, or Peoria Street riot, was one of many
that took place in November 1949.Whites in the neighborhood rioted, attacking other whites, partially based on rumors and misinformation that blacks were meeting to take over their neighborhood.
Origin
According to labor historian Rick Halpern the U.P.W.A (United Packing Workers of America) were holding an interracial union meeting at the home of Aaron Bindman (a member of the
The origin of the race riots in Chicago was blacks moving into the neighborhood. In Englewood this took place on the basis of a rumor. Supposedly the house at 5643 S. Peoria St. was going to be bought by a black.[2] This rumor was false, but it nonetheless triggered racial upheaval of white nationalists.
The riot
Hundreds of whites gathered outside the home where the meeting was being held on the night of November 8. At about 9:30 p.m., a young boy threw a rock at house and others in the crowd followed. The rioting lasted for five days, with police doing little to stop the violence and even encouraged more violence at times. Whites in the neighborhood beat blacks and white people whom they believed to be outsiders or communists. At least thirteen people were beaten severely enough to be in hospital.[3]
Size and form
At first there were some several hundred rioters. This rose to a peak of up to 10,000 rioters.[2] The white residents did not want blacks to be in their community and also cried out against Jews and Communists being allegedly involved. It was alleged that a local Catholic parish was responsible for organizing the gangs behind the violence.[3]
See also
- Airport Homes race riots
- Fernwood Park race riot
- List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
References
- ^ Rick Halpern Down on This Killing Floor / Black and White Workers in Chicago's Packinghouses 1904ā54 p.240
- ^ a b
ISBN 9780226342443.
- ^ a b Charlton, N. Caroline Harney, James. "The Siege on South Peoria Street".
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)