Chicago Race Riot of 1919

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Chicago Race Riot of 1919
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I Tremble for my country when I reflect that God
is just that His justice cannot sleep
forever.Thomas Jefferson, 1782

• We hold these truths to be self-evident,
• that all men are created equal,
• that they are endowed by their creator
• with certain unalienable Rights,
• that among these are
• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
• Declaration of Independence, 1776

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The Catalyst

• Sunday, July 27, 1919
• - Eugene Williams, 18, (Black) killed at
  Segregated 29th Street Beach. Stoned and Drowned.
• - Whites threw stones at Williams as he crossed
  the invisible live separating whites and blacks.
• - George Stauber (White), is accused of being the
  rock thrower.
• - Police Officer Daniel Callahan (White), refuses
  to arrest Stauber or allow help to reach
  Williams.
• - Fights between Blacks and Whites break out.
• - 2 other officers show up to arrest Stauber and
  get the wounded Callahan out of the beach.
• BUT. . .
• The Seventh Seal Was Now Open!

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I believe that there will ultimately be a clash
between the oppressed and those doing the
oppressing. I believe that there will be a
clash between those who want freedom, justice
and equality for everyone, and those who want to
continue the system of exploitation. Malcolm
X, 1961
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Large Crowd of African-Americans gathers at
Walgreen's to hear latest news of Riot
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A Riot is the language of the unheardMartin
Luther King, Jr., 1963

• Can we all just get along?
• Rodney King, 1992
• During Los Angles Riots

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5 Chicago Police Officers and 1 Illinois
National Guard Member
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For the Next 7 Days the Riots Flared On and Off
Murder, Drive-by Shootings, Lynchings, Arson,
and General Destruction

• Monday July 28, 1919
• - White gangs attack black stockyard workers on
  their way home.
• - Whites raid black neighborhoods and set fire
  to homes.
• - Blacks seek revenge attack street cars and
  Whites homes.

• Sunday July 27, 1919
• - Eugene Williams dead.
• - George Stauber arrested.
• - White and Black gangs rampage on South Side.
• - Whites crossing into Black neighborhoods were
  attacked, same for Blacks.

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A White Gang Hunts for Negroes

• - 20 People killed on Monday Night Rioting
• Tuesday, July 29, 1919
• - Riot Spreads north to the Loop and south to
  the Englewood Neighborhood
• (Mostly White in 1919)
• - Police regain control for short time, THEN. . .

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White Men Stoning a Black Man to Death

• Wednesday, July 30, 1919
• - Nightfall White gangs in cars drive south to
  Black neighborhoods and do the 1st Ever Drive-By
  Shootings.
• - Most Drive-By Shooters Killed or Injured by
  Chicago Police.
• - Police try to keep Whites and Blacks separate.
• - 1030pm Mayor Thompson finally calls Gov.
  Lowden for National Guard Help.
• - Riots subside with Army Presence.

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Rescuing a Negro During the Race Riots in Chicago
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The Weekend Comes

• Thursday July 31, 1919 and Friday August 1, 1919
• - Rain began to fall on the city
• - All is quiet . . . Or So it Seemed. . .
• Saturday August 2, 1919
• - 948 Lithuanian immigrants left homeless
• 49 Homes burned down.
• Arson? Riot? Was there a Connection?

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The Costs
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The Numbers

• 38 People Killed
• - 23 Blacks
• - 15 Whites
• 520 Injured
• - 342 Blacks
• - 178 Whites
• 100s Of Homes Destroyed

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Our Freedom of Speech is freedom or Death. We
got to Fight the powers that be.Lemme hear you
sayFight the Power. . .Cause Im Black and Im
Proud. Im ready and hyped and plus Im
amped.Most of my heroes dont appear on no
Stamps.Public Enemy, Fight the Power, 1989
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