Englewood race riot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Englewood race riot |
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| Date | November 8 - 12, 1949 | ||
| Location |
Englewood, Chicago, Illinois
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| Caused by | Rumors that Jews, communists and blacks were planning to take over the neighborhood | ||
| Methods | Rioting, mob assaults, rock throwing | ||
| Parties to the civil conflict | |||
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| Number | |||
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| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | 13+ | ||
The Englewood race riot, also known as the Peoria Street riot, was a series of violent events in Chicago, Illinois. It happened in November 1949, after World War II. This riot was one of several conflicts in Chicago where different groups of people clashed.
During this time, white residents in the Englewood neighborhood rioted. They attacked other white people, based on false rumors. These rumors said that Black people were meeting to take over their neighborhood.
What Caused the Englewood Riot?
The riot started because of a false rumor. People heard that a Black family was going to buy a house at 5643 S. Peoria Street. This rumor was not true, but it still caused a lot of anger and violence among some white residents.
According to a historian named Rick Halpern, a union called the United Packing Workers of America (UPWA) was holding a meeting. This meeting was at the home of Aaron and Louise Bindman, and Bill and Gussie Sennett. People from different racial backgrounds, including Black union members, were at this meeting.
Neighbors were upset that Black people were present. They demanded that the Black attendees leave the area. When the Bindmans refused, the rioting began. Even with many police officers there, the crowd almost destroyed the Bindmans' home.
How the Riot Happened
On the night of November 8, hundreds of white people gathered outside the house where the meeting was held. Around 9:30 p.m., a young boy threw a rock at the house. Others in the crowd quickly followed.
The violence continued for five days. Police officers did not do much to stop the fighting. Sometimes, they even seemed to encourage more violence. White residents in the neighborhood attacked Black people. They also attacked white people they thought were outsiders or communists. At least 13 people were hurt badly enough to need hospital care.
How Big Was the Riot?
At first, there were a few hundred rioters. But the number grew quickly. At its peak, up to 10,000 people were involved in the riot. The white residents did not want Black people to live in their community. They also shouted against Jewish people and people they believed were communists. Some people even claimed that a local Catholic church helped organize the groups behind the violence.
