Disasters
New York City (NYC)
Harlem Riots of 1964
Harlem Riots of 1964
The riot that took place on July 18, 1964 was inspired by a tragic event
that had taken place only two days before. It was a hot summer day in
the predominantly white neighborhood around East 70th Street, when a
superintendent of one of the buildings pointed his hose in the direction
of a few misbehaving African-American teenagers. The young boys were
loitering around the same building that the superintendent was working.
After refusing to move away from the area, one of the boys, fifteen year
old James Powell chased the superintendent into the apartment. An
officer who was patrolling nearby overheard the ruckus that they were
making and approached the scene. The officer was in fact an NYPD
Lieutenant by the name of Thomas Gilligan, who was also 16 year war
veteran. Soon, James Powell and Thomas Gilligan came into a direct
confrontation. James Powell who was wielding a knife attacked Gilligan,
slashing him on the forearm. At this point Thomas fired his revolver,
killing the teenager.
After the incident many in the black community of Harlem, were seething
with anger and outrage at the murder of a young boy. They wondered how
Thomas Gilligan, a lieutenant and veteran could not resolve the conflict
without killing Powell. After two days of uneasiness and mourning, on
the night of James Powell's funeral, a crowd of angry people gathered
around Reverend Nelson Duke. He enticed them with his speech to march to
the police precinct and demand justice for the crime committed. The
precinct was located on West 123rd Street in the center of Harlem. As
the crowd arrived in front of the building they faced a police force
that was already stationed there. The senior officer tried to pacify the
crowd explaining that the event was being investigated by the district
attorney. However, they were not satisfied with this answer and did not
disburse. Some rioters on the roof top began to throw bottles and bricks
at the police below. The Tactical Patrol Force was ordered to disperse
them, and with their batons in hand they lunged towards the crowd. At
one point the officers fired 2000 gun shots into the air to disperse the
crowd. However, this further enraged the rioters and mobs that were
fighting the police. Some of the rioters threw Molotov cocktails at
them.
The riot, which lasted 6 days after the initial confrontation, was
violent and bloody. Each day police officers, having lost patience and
restraint, began firing their guns without warning at rioters. On July
22, in a second major confrontation throughout the six day rampage, over
1000 rioters clashed against a highly trained Tactical Patrol Force.
Only one person died in the violence that took place, but many were
injured. Throughout his trial, Thomas Gilligan maintained that Powell
was wielding a knife. The district attorney ruled that he was not guilty
and all charges against Gilligan were dropped. With extreme poverty and
discrimination fueling their anger, the 1964 race riot was just one
among many that would take place in the coming decades in American
cities.
Visit Additional Major NYC Riots:
Draft Riots (1863)
Harlem Race Riot (1943)
Stonewall Inn Riot (1969)
Crown Heights Riot (1991)
Source:
newyorknatives.com
detroits-great-rebellion.com-harlem_riot