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Community Corner

The 1919 Chicago Race Riot

(This is what white people had to say about it)

White gangs even invented a new form, the drive-by shooting:

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"Automobile raids were added to the rioting on Monday night. Cars from which rifle and revolver shots were fired were driven at great spread through sections inhabited by Negroes." (6) No white raiders were arrested and Blacks began "sniping" in retaliation. Chicago's Police Chief admitted to the Commission: "There is no doubt that a great many police officers were grossly unfair in making arrests. They shut their eyes to offenses committed by white men while they were very vigorous in getting all the colored men they could get." (34). Twice as many blacks were arrested than whites.

excerpt from the:  1922 report of The Chicago Commission on Race Relations



 

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