1968 Chicago riots
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Chicago riots were sparked by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was shot while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
, on April 4, 1968 at 6:01 pm. Violence and chaos followed, with blacks flooding out onto the streets of major cities. Soon riots began, primarily in black urban areas . Over 100 major U.S. cities experienced disturbances, resulting in roughly $50 million in damages. Of the 39 people who died, 34 were black. Chicago, Illinois, Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
experienced some of the worst riots. In Chicago, more than 48 hours of rioting left 11 Chicago citizens dead, 48 wounded by police gunfire, 90 policemen injured, and 2,150 people arrested . Two miles of Lawndale on West Madison Street were left in a state of rubble.
stores, and set buildings (both abandoned and occupied) on fire. Firefighters
quickly flooded the neighbourhood, and Chicago’s off-duty firefighters were told to report for duty. There were 36 major fires reported between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm alone. The next day, Mayor Richard J. Daley
imposed a curfew on anyone under the age of 21, closed the streets to automobile traffic, and halted the sale of guns or ammunition .
Approximately 10,500 police
were sent in, and by April 6, more than 6,700 Illinois National Guard
troops arrived in Chicago. President Lyndon B. Johnson
also sent 5,000 U.S. army troops into the city. The General in charge declared that no one was allowed to have gatherings in the riot areas, and he authorized the use of tear gas. Mayor Richard J. Daley gave police the authority a "to shoot to kill any arsonist or anyone with a Molotov cocktail in his hand . . . and . . . to shoot to maim or cripple anyone looting any stores in our city.” The stores that were looted were mostly black stores in black neighbourhoods. The rioters mostly targeted white-owned businesses, especially those who were known to sell cheap merchandise at high prices, or engaged in predatory credit practices. Men’s clothing stores were hit hard, as well as liquor, furniture, appliances and food stores. Some stores avoided being looted by writing “soul brother” on their windows to show their support for the rioters. It took two days for the city to be brought under control.
and on April 10, the Chicago Tribune
editorial claimed that “Black Power
groups” had been the driving force behind the violence through a “Conspiracy to Riot”. No evidence was produced to support the argument that it was a planned riot. During the summer of 1968, Mayor Richard J. Daley appointed the Chicago Riot Study Committee. The committee was led by judges, business leaders, lawyers, and politicians, and staffed by volunteers from law offices. The Committee interviewed hundreds of black residents and white business owners in the area, as well as police officers, fire fighters, and local activists, but no evidence of a conspiracy was produced. The final Riot Study concluded, “Some of the rioters may have discussed specific acts of violence, but for the majority of blacks the riot was a spontaneous overflow of pent-up aggressions.” The Committee also concluded that the majority of first rioters were high school students who began taking their frustration out on white business owners. Once the riots started, however, witnesses said that the riots expanded and multiple adults joined the teenage rioters. No evidence was found that concluded anyone intentionally set fire to a black-owned business or residence . The riots resulted in over 125 fires and 210 buildings being damaged, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage. The 210 buildings burned resulted in $10 million worth of damages. Power lines and telephone lines all around the city were knocked out. In the first two days of rioting, police reported multiple civilian deaths but were unable to determine whether they were caused by the riots or other crimes. No official death toll was given for the riots, although published accounts say 9 to 11 people died as a result. Almost 300 people were arrested, and a thousand people were left homeless. The destruction was mostly on the west side. However, there was some damage in the south side ghetto and near the north side. The south side ghetto had escaped the major chaos mainly because the two large street gangs, the Blackstone Rangers
and the East Side Disciples, cooperated to control their neighborhoods. Following the riots, Chicago experienced a food shortage, and the cities needs were barely met by volunteers bringing food to the area. Results of the riots include the increase in pace of the area’s ongoing de-industrialization and public and private disinvestment. Bulldozers moved in to clean up after the rioters, leaving behind vacant lots. No clashes of this magnitude have ever happened since 1968.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
He was shot while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, on April 4, 1968 at 6:01 pm. Violence and chaos followed, with blacks flooding out onto the streets of major cities. Soon riots began, primarily in black urban areas . Over 100 major U.S. cities experienced disturbances, resulting in roughly $50 million in damages. Of the 39 people who died, 34 were black. Chicago, Illinois, Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
experienced some of the worst riots. In Chicago, more than 48 hours of rioting left 11 Chicago citizens dead, 48 wounded by police gunfire, 90 policemen injured, and 2,150 people arrested . Two miles of Lawndale on West Madison Street were left in a state of rubble.
Riots
On April 5, 1968, in Chicago, violence sparked in the black ghetto on the West side, and gradually expanded to consume a 28-block stretch of West Madison Street, with most damage occurring on Roosevelt Road . Lawndale and Austin neighbourhoods on the West Side and the Woodlawn neighbourhood on the South Side experienced the majority of the destruction and chaos . The rioters broke windows, lootedLooting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
stores, and set buildings (both abandoned and occupied) on fire. Firefighters
Chicago Fire Department
The Chicago Fire Department, also known as the CFD, is the principal fire suppression, prevention, and rescue agency of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second largest fire department in the United States after the New York City...
quickly flooded the neighbourhood, and Chicago’s off-duty firefighters were told to report for duty. There were 36 major fires reported between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm alone. The next day, Mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
imposed a curfew on anyone under the age of 21, closed the streets to automobile traffic, and halted the sale of guns or ammunition .
Approximately 10,500 police
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
were sent in, and by April 6, more than 6,700 Illinois National Guard
Illinois National Guard
The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and...
troops arrived in Chicago. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
also sent 5,000 U.S. army troops into the city. The General in charge declared that no one was allowed to have gatherings in the riot areas, and he authorized the use of tear gas. Mayor Richard J. Daley gave police the authority a "to shoot to kill any arsonist or anyone with a Molotov cocktail in his hand . . . and . . . to shoot to maim or cripple anyone looting any stores in our city.” The stores that were looted were mostly black stores in black neighbourhoods. The rioters mostly targeted white-owned businesses, especially those who were known to sell cheap merchandise at high prices, or engaged in predatory credit practices. Men’s clothing stores were hit hard, as well as liquor, furniture, appliances and food stores. Some stores avoided being looted by writing “soul brother” on their windows to show their support for the rioters. It took two days for the city to be brought under control.
Investigation & After Effects
Rumours swirled that the riots had been organized by Black Panther activistsBlack Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
and on April 10, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
editorial claimed that “Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
groups” had been the driving force behind the violence through a “Conspiracy to Riot”. No evidence was produced to support the argument that it was a planned riot. During the summer of 1968, Mayor Richard J. Daley appointed the Chicago Riot Study Committee. The committee was led by judges, business leaders, lawyers, and politicians, and staffed by volunteers from law offices. The Committee interviewed hundreds of black residents and white business owners in the area, as well as police officers, fire fighters, and local activists, but no evidence of a conspiracy was produced. The final Riot Study concluded, “Some of the rioters may have discussed specific acts of violence, but for the majority of blacks the riot was a spontaneous overflow of pent-up aggressions.” The Committee also concluded that the majority of first rioters were high school students who began taking their frustration out on white business owners. Once the riots started, however, witnesses said that the riots expanded and multiple adults joined the teenage rioters. No evidence was found that concluded anyone intentionally set fire to a black-owned business or residence . The riots resulted in over 125 fires and 210 buildings being damaged, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage. The 210 buildings burned resulted in $10 million worth of damages. Power lines and telephone lines all around the city were knocked out. In the first two days of rioting, police reported multiple civilian deaths but were unable to determine whether they were caused by the riots or other crimes. No official death toll was given for the riots, although published accounts say 9 to 11 people died as a result. Almost 300 people were arrested, and a thousand people were left homeless. The destruction was mostly on the west side. However, there was some damage in the south side ghetto and near the north side. The south side ghetto had escaped the major chaos mainly because the two large street gangs, the Blackstone Rangers
Black P. Stones
The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation is a Chicago-based street gang estimated to have more than 30,000 members. The gang was originally formed in the late 1950s as a civil rights organization called the Blackstone Rangers...
and the East Side Disciples, cooperated to control their neighborhoods. Following the riots, Chicago experienced a food shortage, and the cities needs were barely met by volunteers bringing food to the area. Results of the riots include the increase in pace of the area’s ongoing de-industrialization and public and private disinvestment. Bulldozers moved in to clean up after the rioters, leaving behind vacant lots. No clashes of this magnitude have ever happened since 1968.