Cicero race riot of 1951 facts for kids

The Cicero race riot of 1951 happened on July 11–12. During this time, a large group of about 4,000 white people attacked an apartment building. This building in Cicero, Illinois, was home to a single Black family.

Why the Riot Happened

After World War II, there were many attacks by white people on Black people in the Chicago area. These attacks often happened in the South and Southwest parts of Chicago. They also occurred in Cicero, a town west of Chicago.

Black professionals wanted better homes. They looked for housing outside the crowded South Side neighborhoods. Sometimes, they tried to move into new public housing. But they often faced angry white crowds. These crowds could be thousands strong. People would try to burn down homes or set off bombs.

The Start of the Trouble

In June 1951, a woman named Mrs. DeRose owned an apartment building. She had a problem with her tenants and had to give them some money back. Because she was angry, she rented an apartment to Harvey E. Clark Jr. He was a Black World War II veteran. He had also graduated from Fisk University. His family was moving into an all-white neighborhood.

A high-ranking official in Cicero found out about the Clark family. He warned Mrs. DeRose that there would be "trouble" if they moved in. On June 8, a moving truck with Clark's furniture was stopped by police. A police officer pointed a gun at the rental agent. A crowd gathered and started yelling. Police told Clark to leave or he would be arrested. A detective threatened him.

Later that day, 20 police officers grabbed Clark. The police chief told him to "Get out of here fast." He said, "There will be no moving into this building." Clark was hit several times as he was pushed into a car. Police told him to "Get out of Cicero and don't come back."

The NAACP helped Clark. They filed a lawsuit against the Cicero Police Department. On June 26, the Clark family was able to move into the apartment.

The Riot Begins

Once the Clarks lived in the apartment, word spread that there would be "fun" there. On July 11, 1951, as it got dark, about 4,000 white people attacked the building. This building held the Clark family and their belongings. Sixty police officers were at the scene to try and control the crowd.

Women carried stones to throw at Clark's windows. Others threw burning objects onto the windows and roof. Twenty-one family members had already left the building before the riot. The angry crowd also destroyed a bathtub, wood, plaster, doors, and windows. They also set fires inside the building. Most of the white people involved were teenagers.

Firefighters arrived to put out the fires. The crowd threw bricks and stones at them. Sheriff's deputies asked the firefighters to spray their hoses on the rioters. But the firefighters refused without their leader. The situation was out of control. County Sheriff John E. Babbs asked Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II for help.

When the Illinois National Guard troops arrived, the rioters fought with them. The troops used bayonets, rifle butts, and tear gas. They created a large safety zone around the apartment building. This helped to end the riot. By July 14, most of the violence had stopped. The riot caused about $20,000 in damage to the building.

What Happened Next

A local court group called a grand jury did not accuse any of the rioters. Instead, they accused Clark's lawyer, George N. Leighton, the building owner, and the rental agent. They were accused of causing a riot and planning to damage property. These accusations were later dropped after many people criticized them.

Then, a federal grand jury looked into the matter. They accused four Cicero officials and three police officers. They were accused of violating Clark's rights. The United States Attorney General started an investigation. Charges were dropped against the fire chief and the town's president. The police chief and two police officers had to pay fines. This was for violating Clark's civil rights. This federal action was seen as very brave. It was rare for federal officials to act on housing civil rights issues.

The Cicero Race Riot of 1951 lasted several nights. It involved thousands of white rioters. People all over the world spoke out against it. This was the first race riot shown on local television. Many people saw the riot on TV before reading about it in newspapers. Earlier housing attacks in Chicago were often ignored by the press. But the Cicero riot in 1951 brought worldwide attention.

Even with this event, the Black population in Chicago kept growing. The Chicago Housing Authority reported fewer Black families asking for police protection. Housing attacks did not stop completely, but they became less frequent.

On July 14, 1951, the Chicago Tribune newspaper wrote about the riot. They said the mob's actions were wrong. They stated that when a majority group abuses its power to harm a minority, it is always wrong. This applies whether the minority is about money, race, religion, or anything else.

The buildings involved in the riots are still standing and lived in today. Harvey E. Clark Jr. passed away in 1998 at the age of 75.