List of riots and civil unrest in Omaha, Nebraska facts for kids

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Omaha, Nebraska, has a long history of important events, including times of civil unrest and riots. These events often happened because of struggles over jobs, money, and social differences. Omaha grew with industries like meatpacking and railroads. This brought many people to the city, including immigrants from Europe and African Americans from the South. Sometimes, these different groups competed for jobs and resources, leading to tension.

Throughout history, civil unrest in Omaha has reflected the big issues of the time. In the 1890s, people protested to support those without homes. Later, there were protests against people who crossed picket lines during strikes, and even anti-war events in the 1970s. The 1960s saw major riots in the Near North Side neighborhood, showing how social and economic problems could lead to violence.

Often, these violent events didn't solve the root problems. For example, workers struggled for better conditions for a long time because big industries didn't want unions. Even when workers started to succeed, industries changed, and many jobs were lost. Challenges for African Americans in Omaha, like getting fair jobs and opportunities, also continued, changing shape over time. Problems like poverty and crime, mixed with issues of class and race, still cause tension in some communities.

Unrest in the 1800s: Early Protests and Conflicts
Unrest in the Early 1900s: World Wars and Social Change
Unrest in the 2000s: Modern Protests

Unrest in the 1800s: Early Protests and Conflicts

In the late 1800s, most civil unrest in Omaha was about disagreements between workers and their employers. During the 1880s and 1890s, the Governor of Nebraska often sent in the state militia (a type of military force) to deal with labor disputes in industries like smelting (processing metal), railroads, and meatpacking. In 1895, a group called the American Protective Association even threatened large riots when a new state law changed how the police and fire departments were managed.

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: The 1800s
Date	Issue	Event
1877	Worker Rights	A railroad strike led to military units being called in to stop the violence. These strikes were happening across the U.S. to protest the power of railroad companies. General Phillip Sheridan suggested stationing a U.S. Army regiment in Omaha permanently because of these events.
July 12, 1878	Homelessness	About 50 homeless men got onto a train heading to Omaha. Officials in Council Bluffs, Iowa, waited with 200 armed people to stop them. Forty men were arrested. They said 200 more were coming the next day.
May 4, 1880	Worker Rights	Hundreds of workers at the Omaha Smelting Works went on strike. When over 100 black men were brought in to replace them, the strikers offered to pay for their trips home. The black workers reportedly agreed and joined the strike. The strike continued, and city leaders threatened to bring in the state militia.
March 9, 1882	Worker Rights	The Camp Dump Strike involved the state militia against union workers. The Nebraska governor called in U.S. Army troops from Fort Omaha to protect new workers at the Burlington Railroad. They brought Gatling guns and a cannon, and the event ended.
November 13, 1887	Politics	A crowd of 200 gathered in the Sheelytown neighborhood and threatened people who displayed an anarchist flag. Police arrived and removed the flag, and the crowd left.
August 2, 1891	Worker Rights	A group of 500 people attacked the Omaha Granite and Smelting Works, damaging property and forcing workers out. Police could not stop the group.
1893	Worker Rights	A strike by hundreds of butchers in South Omaha's meatpacking plants was stopped when the government brought in six companies of militia and new workers.
April 22, 1894	Unemployment	"Kelly's Army," a group of 2000 homeless men, traveled through Omaha on their way to Washington, D.C., to protest a bad economic period. Supporters in Omaha tried to take a train for them but were stopped by military forces.
August 6, 1894	Worker Rights	A general strike in meatpacking plants became violent when new workers replaced strikers. The Nebraska state militia arrived to protect the new workers. The strike was eventually broken.
March 12, 1895	Religious Conflict	Fighting broke out among Polish immigrants at St. Paul's Catholic Church over who owned the church. When the U.S. Supreme Court decided in favor of the Bishop, the group that disagreed burned the church building down.
November 18, 1898	Transportation	After a big event called the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, many large streetcars were removed. Residents from the Walnut Hill area protested the crowded smaller cars by taking over several streetcars.
February 5, 1899	Public Health	Dozens of people were kept in the Vendome Hotel in Downtown Omaha during a smallpox outbreak. Guests, especially traveling business people, protested being held against their will for almost a week.

Unrest in the Early 1900s: World Wars and Social Change

The first half of the 20th century saw violent events due to two world wars and many worker disputes. This period also saw the first recorded instances of racial discrimination against Japanese and Greek immigrants. The growing civil rights movement and the Vietnam War also created new tensions. In the 1960s, African Americans protested violently against police actions and other issues.

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: 1900 to 1929
Date	Issue	Event
June 28, 1902	Worker Rights	Protesters at the Union Pacific shops in Downtown Omaha went on strike, affecting 1,800 workers across the Western United States.
May 14, 1903	Worker Rights	3,000 workers went on strike in Omaha. The Governor was called in to help. Protesters rioted in Downtown Omaha after new workers were brought in.
July 28, 1904	Worker Rights	5,000 South Omaha workers walked out to support others whose wages were cut. The Douglas County sheriff took control of policing during meatpacking strikes. The meatpacking companies had hired a gang to cause riots, but the sheriff ran them out of town. The strike was eventually broken.
April 17, 1905	Racial Tension	Over 800 students, children of European immigrant workers, protested the presence of Japanese students, who were children of new workers. The protesting students locked adults out of their school buildings.
May 13, 1906	Politics	A group of 1,000 citizens surrounded the Old City Hall in Downtown Omaha. They protested when the Republican-controlled City Council refused to let a new Democratic-controlled City Council take their positions. The old council members eventually gave up control.
September 19- September 23, 1909	Worker Rights	Several days of rioting happened as streetcar workers tried to form a union. The company owner, Gurdon Wattles, resisted and hired new workers. Pro-union groups destroyed streetcars and attacked new workers. Wattles eventually broke the strike.
July 4, 1910	Racial Tension	After African-American boxer Jack Johnson won a big fight, groups of white people rioted in Omaha and other cities. They injured several black men in Omaha and killed one.
September 28, 1919	Racial Tension	A large crowd of 10,000 people gathered in Downtown Omaha. The crowd tried to break into the Douglas County Courthouse. The U.S. Army was called in to stop the rioting. This event followed other race riots across the country after World War I.
March 12, 1921	Worker Rights	6,000 workers at the South Omaha meatpacking plants went on strike, causing problems for traffic and businesses. More police were called in to control the situation.

The Great Depression: Economic Hardship and Protests

The Great Depression in the 1930s caused millions of people to lose their jobs and led to many protests across the U.S. For many, the struggle for work was a struggle to survive.

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: The Great Depression
Date	Issue	Event
August 1932	Economic Hardship	Farmers blocked roads into Omaha to try and increase the prices they were paid for their crops. For three nights, protesters clashed with police. In one incident, 1,000 people watched as police were hit with logs and rocks while leading farm trucks through a blocked road.
1933	Economic Hardship	Farmers protested the impact of the Great Depression on their farms during the Milk Strike. Groups of farmers overturned milk delivery trucks in the streets. The strike was not successful.
April 1935	Worker Rights	A fragile agreement between streetcar company management and pro-union workers broke, leading to a long and violent strike.
June 14, 1935	Worker Rights	1,800 National Guardsmen were called in to stop the violence, and martial law (military rule) was declared. Two people were killed, and 100 were injured.
February 23, 1942	School Funding	Students at Omaha University protested cuts to funding for athletic programs. Their actions forced the university to close for several days and disrupted traffic on Dodge Street.

After World War II: Changing Industries and Civil Rights

After World War II, many parts of the country seemed peaceful. However, in working-class cities like Omaha, worker unrest continued. Major industries like railroads and meatpacking lost tens of thousands of jobs after 1950. Many working-class people struggled as the economy changed. The city also grew outwards, with new suburbs and development in the west. This led to many people moving away from older city neighborhoods.

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: After World War II
Date	Issue	Event
June 24, 1947	Worker Rights	The Omaha Stockyards and much of South Omaha shut down after workers walked out over working conditions.
1948	Racial Tension	Thirty members of the DePorres Club held Omaha's first sit-in at a restaurant near the Douglas County Courthouse. The owner said white customers would stop coming if black people were served. The group stayed until the owner agreed to serve African-American customers.
1959	Anti-Nuclear Protest	Karl H. Meyer was arrested after protesting against nuclear missiles in Omaha.

Civil Rights and Vietnam War Protests: Demands for Change

The Civil Rights Movement in the United States led to demands against racism and for black power in Omaha. At the same time, many young people were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Resistance grew against what was seen as unfair treatment and police actions. This led to protests and riots, and their effects are still felt in some communities today.

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: Civil Rights and Vietnam War
Date	Issue	Event
July 4, 1966	Racial Tension	After a very hot day, a crowd of African Americans gathered. They reacted violently when police asked them to leave. The crowd damaged police cars and businesses on North 24th Street, causing millions of dollars in damage. The riot lasted three days.
August 1, 1966	Racial Tension	Riots started after a 19-year-old was shot by a white, off-duty policeman. Local news was criticized for blaming African Americans for problems in their neighborhoods. Three buildings were firebombed, and 180 riot police were needed to calm the crowds.
March 4, 1968	Racial Tension	A crowd of high school and university students protested at the Omaha Civic Auditorium against the presidential campaign of George Wallace, who supported segregation.
July 10, 1971	Anti-War	The city was on alert after four days and nights of anti-Vietnam War protests at Memorial Park. Thousands of young activists were involved.

Unrest in the 2000s: Modern Protests

Protests and Unrest in Omaha: The 2000s
Date	Issue	Event
May 29–30, 2020	Police Actions	Thousands of protesters gathered to protest the death of George Floyd.
June 5th, 2020	Police Actions	Hundreds of activists held a rally to remember Zachary Bear Heels and speak out against police violence.
July 25, 2020	Police Actions	Omaha activists marched to support the people of Portland, Oregon, because federal troops had been sent there.

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