1919 Coatesville call to arms facts for kids
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Coatesville and its steel plant
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| Date | Late July 1919 |
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| Location | Coatesville, Pennsylvania, United States |
The 1919 Coatesville call to arms was a time when the Black community in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, came together. They formed a large group, ready to protect someone from a rumored attack. This happened because they heard a false story that a white mob was planning to harm a person in jail. When the armed group arrived at the jail, they learned there was no suspect and no mob. This event shows how rumors can cause fear and how communities can unite.
The Call to Action
In July 1919, a rumor spread in Coatesville. People heard that a young white girl had been harmed. Then, on July 8, another rumor started. It said that a suspect had been arrested. Even worse, people heard that a white mob was gathering to harm the person in jail.
Many Black residents of Coatesville remembered a terrible event from 1911. A Black man named Zachariah Walker had been lynched by a mob. A lynching is when a group of people illegally kill someone, often by hanging, without a trial. This memory made the community very scared.
To prevent another tragedy, a large group of African Americans in Coatesville decided to act. They armed themselves to protect the jail. They marched downtown, ready to stand up against the rumored white mob.
When they reached the jail, Mayor Swing and a local leader, Reverend T. W. McKinney, met them. They told the crowd that the rumors were false. There was no suspect in jail, and no white mob was forming.
Some leaders of the march were taken into custody. They were later released. They had gathered to prevent a rumored riot, not to start one.
The Red Summer Connection
The Coatesville event was part of a larger period in American history. This time was called the Red Summer of 1919. During this summer, there were many acts of violence across the United States. These events often involved attacks on Black communities.
In most cases, white mobs attacked African American neighborhoods. However, in some cities, Black community groups fought back. This happened in places like Chicago and Washington, D.C..
Many people died during the Red Summer. The worst violence occurred in rural areas. For example, in the Elaine Race Riot in Arkansas, many Black people were killed. Other major events included the Chicago Race Riot and the Washington D.C. race riot. These riots caused many deaths and injuries. They also led to a lot of property damage, costing millions of dollars.
The Red Summer shows a difficult time in American history. It highlights the struggles for civil rights and equality.
Images for kids
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Coatesville and its steel plant
