Dixmoor race riot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dixmoor race riot |
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|---|---|
| Part of Ghetto riots | |
| Location | |
| Casualties | |
| Injuries | 37 |
| Arrested | 25 |
The 1964 Dixmoor race riot happened in Dixmoor, Illinois. It took place between August 15 and 17, 1964. This event began after a woman was accused of taking something from a store without paying. She was then involved in a struggle with the store owner and arrested. This made many local residents angry. They gathered to protest the store. Soon, the protest turned into a riot, with people damaging the store and other buildings nearby.
What Caused the Dixmoor Riot?
On August 15, 1964, a woman named Blondella Woods was at a store called Foremost Liquors. She was a Black woman from Chicago. The store owner, Michael "Big Mike" LaPota, accused her of taking an item without paying. When she tried to leave, a physical struggle happened between her, the owner, and his employees. Witnesses said the owner and his staff treated Ms. Woods roughly. Police arrived and took her to a hospital.
The next day, August 16, people gathered to protest. They stood outside Foremost Liquors. They were upset about how Ms. Woods had been treated. Their signs showed their anger towards the store owner. This protest quickly grew larger and became violent.
How the Riot Unfolded
The crowd first targeted the store owned by Michael LaPota. Police and firefighters arrived to protect the buildings. They used high-pressure hoses to try and control the crowd. However, the people involved in the riot then began attacking cars passing by. They threw objects like rocks and bottles. This broke car windows and hurt people inside the vehicles.
State police fired warning shots into the air. More police officers were called to help. In total, 225 police officers from different departments came to the scene. Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie, who later became the Governor of Illinois, gave a clear message. He told police to announce that if anyone shot at them, they would shoot back.
The riot started around 8 p.m. on August 16. It was mostly over by 2 a.m. on August 17. About 1,000 people were part of the protest and riot. During the event, 37 people were injured. Police arrested 25 people. They were taken to the Harvey, Illinois police station.
