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The Waukegan Riot of 1966 was a period of conflict between police and some residents of the town's predominantly African-American and Puerto Rican neighborhoods on the south side that occurred in the midst of the tumult sweeping America in the midst of the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68). On Friday, 26 August, an African-American police officer named Ernest Jones attempted to arrest Roosevelt Saunders, an African-American man.〔Dan McNulty, "Real Cause of Riots Probed in Waukegan," ''The Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun'' 1 September 1966.〕 A fight ensued, and Saunders escaped into a crowd, and several days of rioting followed.〔Dan McNulty, "Real Cause of Riots Probed in Waukegan," ''The Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun'' 1 September 1966.〕 The fact that the catalyzing encounter involved two African-Americans prompted some to suggest that the unrest was not about race, but the event underscored a deep sense of disempowerment among the African-American community.〔Dan McNulty, "Real Cause of Riots Probed in Waukegan," ''The Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun'' 1 September 1966.〕 By 28 August, 200 police were called to a 2 square mile area bounded by the streets of Genesee, 10th, and McAllister, and South Avenue.〔Mount, Charles, "Seize 64 in Waukegan Riot," ''Chicago Tribune'', 29 August 1966.〕 As a mostly young crowd battled with police, a Puerto Rican family of six got caught in the crossfire, their car being hit by a Molotov cocktail while returning from church. The Waukegan branch of the NAACP later raised money for these victims.〔"Mayor Warns: 'No Outsiders in Waukegan,'" ''Chicago Tribune'', 1 September 1966.〕 By the night of 29 August, police with riot helmets and shotguns had established a curfew beginning at 7:30 pm for the region enclosed by Belvidere Street, McAlister Street, South Avenue. and Lake Michigan.〔"Police Seal Off Waukegan Riot Area, Arrest 57," ''Chicago Tribune'', 30 August 1966.〕 Over 100 African-Americans were arrested over the course of the weekend.〔Dan McNulty, "Real Cause of Riots Probed in Waukegan," ''The Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun'' 1 September 1966.〕 Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian had harsh words for those involved in the riots, calling them "local hopheads, narcotic addicts, drunkards, and just plain scum" and vowing that anyone involved in public housing would be evicted.〔"Police Seal Off Waukegan Riot Area, Arrest 57," ''Chicago Tribune'', 30 August 1966.〕 He also reportedly issued an order to police of "shoot to kill."〔Linner Myers, "Controversial Ex-mayor of Waukegan in Thick of Race Again," ''Chicago Tribune'' 28 March 1985.〕 Subsequently Sabonjian held talks with community leaders and the NAACP, which vowed to open dialogue about segregation, police brutality, and the lack of recreation facilities in African-American and Puerto Rican neighborhoods of the city.〔"Mayor Slates Race Parley for Waukegan," ''Chicago Tribune'', 4 September 1966〕 Talks fell apart, though, when Sabonjian reiterated charges at the meeting that the NAACP had orchestrated the August unrest.〔"NAACP Aids Quit Parley in Waukegan," ''Chicago Tribune'', 8 September 1966.〕 He refused to apologize for the remarks, prompting the NAACP to walk out of talks.〔"NAACP Aids Quit Parley in Waukegan," ''Chicago Tribune'', 8 September 1966.〕 They were also upset by Sabonjian's proposed measure in the city council, which required that all civil rights demonstrations consist of less than 100 people and, moreover, that all participants in these demonstrations ought to have their names submitted to the city police department four days beforehand.〔"NAACP Aids Quit Parley in Waukegan," ''Chicago Tribune'', 8 September 1966.〕 In response, the NAACP along with other community leaders organized a march of over 200 people on 10 September through downtown Waukegan. The crowd, mostly African-American, carried signs protesting segregated schools and racist housing policies.〔"200 Marchers Join in Waukegan Protest," ''Chicago Tribune'', 11 September 1966.〕 The march coincided with a push toward desegregation aimed at Whittier Elementary School. Almost entirely African-American, Whittier's enrollment stood in contrast to Waukegan's four other elementary schools, two of which were all white and two of which were 99% white.〔Michael McGuire, "Marching Ban to be Sought in Waukegan," ''Chicago Tribune'' 6 September 1966.〕 As of early September, the Whittier community protested this segregation by boycotting, with less than a quarter of students showing up for class. In the wake of the march, Sabonjian backpedalled from the limit on crowds to less than 100 people, but he maintained the requirement that names of participants be submitted to the police department beforehand, ostensibly to prevent felons from involvement.〔"Waukegan Puts Ban on Felons Marching," ''Chicago Tribune'' 13 September 1966.〕 Subsequent meetings between Sabonjian and the NAACP proved more productive. By late September, they had agreed to building a recreation center in the area of the August unrest as well as initiatives aimed at providing jobs for minority groups.〔"A Mayor Halts Attack on Vet," ''Chicago Tribune'' 22 September 1966〕 Sabonjian's rhetoric, however, did not moderate. In October of 1866, he referred to those involved in the riot as "animals."〔"Waukegan Mayor Criticizes Riots." http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/89173/Waukegan_Mayor_Criticizes_Riots_-_HD/〕 == References == * * * * 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Waukegan Riot of 1966」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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