Waukegan riot of 1966 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waukegan riot of 1966 |
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| Part of Ghetto riots | |||
| Date | August 26–29, 1966 | ||
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| Casualties | |||
| Arrested | 100+ | ||
The Waukegan riot of 1966 was a time of tension and conflict. It happened between police and some people living in the south side of Waukegan, Illinois. These neighborhoods were mostly home to African Americans and Puerto Rican families. This event took place during the Civil Rights Movement, a time when many people worked for equal rights.
This period of unrest also happened when people were trying to end segregation at Whittier Elementary School. Almost all the students at Whittier were African American. This was very different from Waukegan's other four elementary schools. Two of these schools had only white students. The other two were almost entirely white. In early September, the Whittier community protested this unfair separation. They boycotted classes, meaning very few students went to school.
What Caused the Waukegan Conflict?
On Friday, August 26, an African-American police officer named Ernest Jones tried to arrest Roosevelt Saunders. Mr. Saunders was also an African-American man. A struggle happened, and Mr. Saunders got away into a crowd. This event led to several days of unrest.
Some people thought the conflict was not about race. This was because both people involved were African American. However, the event showed that the African-American community felt powerless. They felt they did not have a say in their town.
Events Unfold in Waukegan
By August 28, about 200 police officers were called to the area. This area was about two square miles. It was bordered by Genesee, 10th, McAllister, and South Avenue streets. A mostly young crowd was clashing with the police.
During this time, a Puerto Rican family of six got caught in the middle. They were returning from church when their car was hit by a bottle filled with flammable liquid. This type of bottle is sometimes called a fire bomb. The Waukegan branch of the NAACP later helped this family. They raised money to support them.
By the night of August 29, police had set up a curfew. A curfew means people must stay indoors after a certain time. This curfew started at 7:30 pm. It covered the area enclosed by Belvidere Street, McAlister Street, South Avenue, and Lake Michigan. Over 100 African-American people were arrested during this weekend.
