Washington race riot of 1919 facts for kids
| Part of Red Summer | |
Coverage of the riots in Washington, D.C. on July 23, 1919
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| Date | July 19–24, 1919 |
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| Location | Washington D. C., United States |
| Deaths | 15-40 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 150 |
The Washington race riot of 1919 was a time of serious public disorder in Washington, D.C.. It happened from July 19 to July 24, 1919. During these days, groups of white men, including many who were in the military, started attacking Black people and their businesses. This happened because of a false rumor that a Black man had attacked a white woman.
The attackers beat Black people on the streets. They even pulled people off streetcars to attack them. At first, the police did not stop the violence. Because of this, the Black community began to fight back to protect themselves. The city closed bars and theaters to try and stop large groups from gathering. Local newspapers, like Washington Post, made things worse. They printed exciting headlines that encouraged the violence. Some even called for a "clean-up" operation.
After four days, the police still had not done much. So, President Woodrow Wilson ordered 2,000 federal troops to come to Washington, D.C. Their job was to bring back order. However, a big summer rainstorm helped calm things down even more. When the violence ended, 15 people had died. This included at least 10 white people, two of whom were police officers. About 5 Black people also died. Around 50 people were badly hurt, and another 100 had less serious injuries. This event was part of a difficult time in American history known as the Red Summer.
Contents
What Caused the Washington D.C. Riot?
The riot began on July 19, 1919. A false rumor spread that a Black man had attacked a white woman. This rumor made many white men, especially those in the armed forces, very angry. They started to attack Black people and their businesses.
How the Violence Spread
The attacks were not organized at first. White mobs randomly beat Black people they saw. They also stopped streetcars to pull Black passengers off and attack them. The police did not step in to stop these attacks right away. This made the situation much worse.
Local newspapers played a big role in spreading the anger. Their headlines made the violence seem acceptable. This encouraged more people to join the mobs.
The Community Fights Back
When the police did not protect them, the Black community decided to defend themselves. They fought back against the attackers. This was a rare event for its time. In many other riots where white people attacked Black people, more Black people died. In this riot, more white people died.
How the Riot Ended
After four days of violence, President Woodrow Wilson took action. He sent 2,000 federal troops to the city. Their job was to restore peace and order. However, a strong summer rainstorm also helped to stop the fighting. The rain made it hard for people to gather and continue the violence.
The Aftermath and Impact
By the time the riot ended on July 24, 1919, many people were hurt or had died. The riot showed the deep racial tensions in the United States at that time. It was one of many similar events that happened across the country during the "Red Summer" of 1919. This period saw many race riots as Black people fought for their rights and safety.
See also
In Spanish: Disturbios raciales de Washington D. C. de 1919 para niños
