US Event

The first massive African American protest in American history took place on July 28th, 1917, in New York City. It was a silent parade, in protest of the East St. Louis, Illinois, massacre that happened on July 2nd, 1917; as well as all the violent events that was happening against African Americans around the country. This parade was organized by the NAACP, churchmen and other civil leaders. The riot in East St. Louis began when white men , angry because African Americans were employed by a factory holding government contracts, went on a rampage. Over $400,000. worth of property was destroyed. At least 40 African American were killed; and men, women and children were beaten, stabbed, hung and burned. Almost 6,000 African American were driven from their homes.The African American communities were also upset because while black men were sent to combat in World War I, which the President Woodrow Wilson described as necessary to the survival of democracy abroad; these same men was denied their basic rights here in the United States.