Washington, D.C. Riots
The Washington, D.C. riots, particularly notable in the 1960s, emerged from deep-rooted racial tensions in urban areas of the North, reflecting broader societal issues during the Civil Rights movement. A significant incident occurred on November 22, 1962, when a high school football game between a predominantly white school and an African American school turned violent, leading to injuries and chaotic unrest that spread beyond the stadium. In 1967, additional unrest erupted in the city, ignited by various minor incidents but exacerbated by long-standing grievances. This riot saw clashes between local residents and law enforcement, with violence mainly concentrated in African American neighborhoods.
The aftermath of these riots prompted governmental response, including the formation of the Kerner Commission, which investigated the causes of urban unrest. The commission's findings highlighted a troubling division in American society along racial lines and underscored the urgent need for reforms to address systemic inequalities. These events played a pivotal role in shaping public policies and discussions about race relations in the United States. Understanding the Washington, D.C. riots provides insight into the complexities of race and social justice movements during this tumultuous period.
Washington, D.C. Riots
Date: November 22, 1962; August 1-3, 1967
Racial unrest that erupted in the nation’s capital. The events were short-lived but had a profound impact on the country as a whole during the Civil Rights movement.
Origins and History
Although much of the attention during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s focused on the South, racial tension also existed in the North, especially in urban areas such as Washington, D.C. The 1962 riot broke out at a football game between two longtime rival high schools, one white and the other African American, and spilled over into the streets. In 1967, other seemingly minor incidents set off a riot.
The Riots
On November 22, 1962, two high school football rivals met for a fifth consecutive annual Washington, D.C., championship game. These schools were St. John’s, a mostly white Catholic high school, and Eastern, a mainly African American public school. During the game, a player ejected for roughness returned to the field and began fighting. His own teammates subdued him, but his actions began a chain reaction. The fighting spread quickly from the field into the crowd, the parking lots, and surrounding streets. A total of thirty-four people were injured before the police brought it under control.
In 1967, a citywide riot occurred. Earlier that summer, many civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., had warned of possible disorders in several cities including Washington, D.C., but their warnings were largely ignored. Although some accused these leaders of giving people reasons to riot, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover acknowledged there was no direct evidence supporting this belief. The violence broke out on August 1. The riot started with sporadic fires set mainly in African American neighborhoods. This was followed by rioters throwing rocks and bottles at police officers and firefighters responding to the blaze. In one area, two roaming gangs shot at police. The turmoil subsided on August 3.
Impact
After the 1967 racial unrest in Washington and other cities, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Illinois Governor Otto Kerner head of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission, to study the reasons for the riots and growing racial tension in the nation. The commission eventually concluded that the United States was being divided into two societies, one white and the other black. The commission concluded that the urban areas of the nation faced a downward trend unless action was taken to relieve discriminatory conditions. This gave rise to a new attitude that brought about new government legislation.
Additional Information
See Richard and Beatrice K. Hofstadter’s Great Issues in American History (1982) for extensive materials on racial problems of the 1960’s and the attempted solutions. The Kerner Commission Report published in 1968 also contains important information.