1964 Philadelphia race riot facts for kids

The Philadelphia riot of 1964 was a serious event that happened in North Philadelphia. This area was home to many African Americans. The riot took place from August 28 to August 30, 1964.

Before the riot, there had been growing tension between the city's black residents and the police. People were concerned about claims of police using too much force. This riot was one of the first big conflicts during the Civil Rights Movement. Similar events had already happened in other cities like Rochester and New York City.

What Led to the Riot?

In 1964, North Philadelphia was a lively center for African American culture. About 400,000 of the city's 600,000 black residents lived there. The Philadelphia Police Department tried to improve its relationship with the black community. They had police cars with one black and one white officer. There was also a group of citizens who reviewed complaints about police actions.

Despite these efforts, racial tensions were still high. Many people were upset about police using too much force. The Philadelphia Tribune, a local black newspaper, often wrote about these issues. Sometimes, white police officers were accused of using too much force. However, they were often found not guilty. The summer of 1964 was a time of strong calls for equal rights. Riots had already broken out in black areas of other northern cities. These events often started because of claims of police using too much force against black residents.

How the Riot Started

The unrest began on the evening of August 28. A black woman named Odessa Bradford was arguing with her boyfriend. She stopped her car in the middle of an intersection. Two police officers, Robert Wells (who was black) and John Hoff (who was white), tried to get her to move.

When she refused, the officers tried to physically remove her from the car. A large crowd quickly gathered around them. A man tried to help Ms. Bradford by attacking the officers. Both he and Ms. Bradford were then arrested.

Soon, rumors spread across North Philadelphia. People heard that a pregnant black woman had been beaten to death by white police officers. This rumor was not true, but it made many people very angry. Later that evening, and for the next two days, angry groups of people began to act out.

They started taking things from stores without paying, which is called looting. They also set fires on purpose, which is called arson. Most of the businesses affected were owned by white people. These events mainly happened along Columbia Avenue. The police were outnumbered and decided to pull back. They did not try to stop the rioters aggressively.

What Happened After?

No one was killed during the three days of rioting. However, 341 people were injured. Police arrested 774 people. About 225 stores were damaged or completely destroyed. Some of the tension was also due to differences in religious groups. Some black Muslim and black nationalist groups were against black Baptist ministers. The ministers had asked for calm.

The riot caused a lot of damage, estimated at 4 million dollars. After the riot, many businesses in North Philadelphia did not reopen. This caused business activity in the area to decline even more. The riots also helped a police leader named Frank Rizzo become more powerful in politics. He believed in very strict ways to deal with crime.

In 1987, Columbia Avenue was renamed Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Cecil B. Moore was an important leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He was known for his strong opinions. Even though his role in stopping the riot was small, many people believe he helped calm things down. Today, Cecil B. Moore Avenue is still a less wealthy area. However, it has seen some new developments. The Temple University campus has grown there. This has made the area around Broad Street more mixed, with many educated people living there.