Rochester 1964 race riot
Encyclopedia
The Rochester 1964 riot was a riot
that occurred in 1964 in Rochester, New York
, in the United States
. In the early evening of Friday, July 24, 1964, the Rochester Police Department attempted to arrest a 19 year-old intoxicated black male at a street block party
and dance. A member of the group "Mothers Improvement Association of the Eighth Ward" concerned with the male's behavior was the first to contact the Rochester Police Department.
Peace was not restored after three days, but only after Governor Nelson Rockefeller
called out the New York
National Guard
, the first such use of troops in a northern city. By the time the disturbance was over, four were dead (three in a helicopter crash) and 350 injured. Almost a thousand people were arrested and 204 stores were either looted or damaged.
Although the riot was initially blamed on "outside agitators", almost all the rioters arrested were from the local area, with only 14 people arrested who resided outside of Monroe County
. Third Ward Supervisor Constance Mitchell, stated, “I know the kids here. I know the hard ones and the good kids. And it was the good kids in my ward who first threw the bricks through the windows. Then the adults stepped in. This community just went insane.” This led to a reappraisal of policies and practices which had not changed in face of a tripling of the African-American population in the previous 10 years.
At that time, most African-Americans held low-pay and low-skill jobs and lived in substandard housing, and Rochester was the last city in the State of New York
to implement a public housing
program.
Throughout the decade following the riot, the City of Rochester acquired the land blighted by the riot, leveled remaining buildings, and removed or repositioned many of the streets. One of the first housing projects built after the riots was the Chatham Gardens Apartments, which opened in 1965.
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
that occurred in 1964 in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the early evening of Friday, July 24, 1964, the Rochester Police Department attempted to arrest a 19 year-old intoxicated black male at a street block party
Block party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
and dance. A member of the group "Mothers Improvement Association of the Eighth Ward" concerned with the male's behavior was the first to contact the Rochester Police Department.
Riot
The police response to the call included a K-9 Corps dog. Rumors alleging police brutality action against African-Americans spread quickly, and an angry crowd formed on Joseph Avenue and became violent. The riot broke out in two of Rochester's predominantly African-American wards, near the location of the intersection of Nassau Street and Joseph Avenue, as well as downtown.Peace was not restored after three days, but only after Governor Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
called out the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
, the first such use of troops in a northern city. By the time the disturbance was over, four were dead (three in a helicopter crash) and 350 injured. Almost a thousand people were arrested and 204 stores were either looted or damaged.
Although the riot was initially blamed on "outside agitators", almost all the rioters arrested were from the local area, with only 14 people arrested who resided outside of Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
. Third Ward Supervisor Constance Mitchell, stated, “I know the kids here. I know the hard ones and the good kids. And it was the good kids in my ward who first threw the bricks through the windows. Then the adults stepped in. This community just went insane.” This led to a reappraisal of policies and practices which had not changed in face of a tripling of the African-American population in the previous 10 years.
At that time, most African-Americans held low-pay and low-skill jobs and lived in substandard housing, and Rochester was the last city in the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to implement a public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
program.
Throughout the decade following the riot, the City of Rochester acquired the land blighted by the riot, leveled remaining buildings, and removed or repositioned many of the streets. One of the first housing projects built after the riots was the Chatham Gardens Apartments, which opened in 1965.
External links
- photographs and timeline of riot at July'64 website
- Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle series about the riot
- July'64 Recent PBS (Public Broardcasting Station) documentary about the 1964 Rochester riot
- 22 Schools reading scores and the areas demographics
- Project IMPACT Latest attempt to rid the area of drugs
- Rochester Wiki Page
- Dr. Cooper Papers-Box 4: Black Muslims, Malcolm X, Police Brutality, Baden Street Settlement, and the Riots; 1960-1965