Riots. Do they really help or do they make things worse? Riots can cause killings, damages to local businesses looting, destruction widespread and a crack down on law enforcement. Some say it’s the only way to make a change in history but if you really stop and think about it, a riot in general takes a big toll on the USA. I did this article in light of the Ferguson event riots that happened on August 9th, 2014. The riots started in Ferguson, Missouri and the riots spread throughout the USA. Currently, the riots are still going on as people continue to be in an outrage over what happened with the verdict of the police officer who shot Michael Brown (18 years old) and was not indicated due to lack of evidence. This list is about riots that happened before in history and some of them started out due to similar events such as the Ferguson event.
Check out these 10 Riots That Changed The USA Forever
10. 1968 – Chicago, DNC Riot
In the 1960’s the hippy stage in America was happening. There was a huge protest that happened near the National Democratic Convention. The protest was all about the two party rule that strangles the democracy in the USA. They protested for 8 days. The city promised them to help with maintaining the law and order. What started it? Officers stopped two young black boys on the side walk. One was 17 years old, Dean Johnson. They were breaking curfew violation. Johnson had a gun with him and drew it and did a misfire at one of the police officers. In return, the police officer took out his gun and hit Johnson three times and he died. A memorial service was organized but because of poor planning it was not done properly.
9. 1967- The Big Detroit Riot
Another riot in the 60’s but this one happened in Detroit. Violent public disorder happened and that created a disturbance that was civil. On July 23, 1967 at the start of the morning, a police raid that was unlicensed occurred. There was a bar known as the Blind Pig which was opened after hours and the police confronted observers and patrons on the streets which ended up causing one of the deadliest riots in the USA. It lasted for five days. Governor George W. Romney had to call in the Michigan National Guard from Detroit and the President sent in the Army. In total, 43 died and over 1,000 were injured and over 7,000 arrests were made. Over 2,000 buildings in Detroit were destroyed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnrJR9KSJYk
8. 1886 – Chicago – The Haymarket Square Riot
There was a bombing that happened on Tuesday May 4th, 1886 during a labor demonstration at the Haymarket Square. They were supporting the workers going on strike for eight hour days. The riots started to happen right after the bombing. The riots started peacefully but then that quickly changed. A person who remained unknown threw in a bomb that was loaded with dynamite at the police. The police responded to the bomb and gunfire happened which caused the death of 7 police officers and up to around 4 or more civilians. Many of them were wounded.
7. 1999- Seattle – WTO Protests
The protest activity started to surround the 1999 WTO Ministerial Conference. It was to be launched as a new trade for negotiations that happened on Nov. 30th, 1999 nicknamed the N30. The negotiating that was going on quickly got overshadowed from the protests in the streets. On November 16th, President Bill Clinton issued the Executive Order 13141 called the Environmental Review of the Trade Agreements. This helps with making sure that the US is committed to the consideration of any environmental impact with trade agreements. He also stated that the trade agreement should help to contribute towards the board goals of any development that’s sustainable.
6. 1794- Western Pennsylvania, the Whiskey Rebellion Riots
The Whiskey Rebellion started in 1791 after there was a tax protest. This happened when George Washington was president. The tax applied to all of whiskey and distilled spirits which caused a huge riot. Farmers resisted the tax because they were accustomed to having their whiskey. A lot of war veterans also resisted it. In Western Pennsylvania and throughout other counties protesters tried to use violence plus intimidation to preventing the collection of the tax. On July 1794 the resistance came in to a high when US Marshals arrived in the Western part of Pennsylvania in order to serve the writes to the distillers who had not paid for their taxes. Over 500 men who were armed attacked the home of General John Neville, a tax inspector. The result of this riot? Washington replied by sending out some peace commissioners to help with negotiating to the ones who were doing the riots. When Thomas Jefferson arrived, he repealed the Whiskey tax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHgKPlCnXs4
5. 1835- Maryland – The Baltimore Bank Riot
In 1835 there was a riot that lasted from August 6-9th in Maryland. The riot was a result of property and homes from a lot of the ex directors that worked with the bank had actually been accused of possible fraud and misconduct. The riot was extremely violent and destructive. Rioters actually destroyed a lot of the wealthy homes in the city and burned a lot of property. Authorities could not control their violence and had to surrender to the mob. A lot of bystanders supported the mob. The result? Afterwards, a lot of the mob leaders were identified and then they had to undergo a trial, fined then imprisoned. People who lost property during the riot sued the State of Maryland because of not protecting them and they won and received around $100,000 for compensation because of it.
baltimorecitypolicehistory.com
4. 1906 – Atlanta – The Atlanta Race Riot
In Atlanta, Georgia there was a mass civil disturbance between September 22nd- September 24th, 1906. Around 25 to 40 African Americans were killed during this time along with two European Americans. Two white people also died. The reason why this happened was because of the tension that was rising between African Americans and Whites due to the competition for the jobs and a variety of other things. The result of this riot? In the east part, African American businesses were dispersed and a black business was also soon developed and thrived.
3. 1980 – Miami – The Arthur McDuffie Riots
In May 1980, race riots happened in Miami, Florida. They happened after Arthur McDuffie died. He was an African American and four white officers tried to arrest him after undergoing a high speed chase. The result of the riots? The officers ended up being acquitted and tried for evidence tampering, manslaughter a few other things. The Dade County in 1981 paid the McDuffie family $1.1 million as a settlement for what happened but only after they officially filed a civil lawsuit against the police officers.
2. 1999- Michigan – Michigan State University Student Riots
In 1999 at Michigan State University there were riots that happened between the 1990s and at the beginning of the year 2000. A riot happened after a loss occurred with their basketball team against Duke University. Around 5,000 to 10,000 students even non students gathered around the campus outside and rioted. Up to around $500,000 in damages occurred and 132 people plus 71 students were arrested. It was one of the most brutal riots to have happened at Michigan State University. Due to this riot a state law was passed that allowed judges to give discretion to the bar students who might be convicted with rioting in public colleges for up to around two years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZ5aOHs5yk
1. 1992 – Los Angeles California, The Rodney King Riots
In 1992 at Los Angeles California, The Rodney King Riots started. There was a series of looting’s, riots, arsons and many civil disturbances that happened. It followed the police offices in regards to a trial that was videotaped and covered widely as a brutality police incident. It was one of the biggest riots that the USA has seen since the 1960’s and there was a lot of death that happened from the riots. The California Army Natural Guard had to go in and the Marines from the 1st Marine Division also went in to help with stopping the rioting. Over 2,000 people were injured and at least 53 killed. What was the result of this riot? A lot of pressure went on for the retrial of the officers plus federal charges of civil rights violation happened against the officers. All four of the officers involved have either now been fired or quit. Around a third of the rioters were arrested and then later released because the police officers could not identify the individuals due to the big crowd. Over 3,000 buildings were burned and food and donations and medicine had to be handed out in order to help with rebuilding Los Angeles after the occurrence.
Conclusion
Some riots can help change the law when other riots do not. Most riots end up causing a lot of damage and deaths that could have been prevented. In the end, is it really worth it?