Fernwood Park race riot
The Fernwood Park race riot took place in mid August 1947 in the Fernwood, Chicago neighborhood. Riots took place between 98th and 111th streets. It was one of the worst race riots in Chicago history.
In mid August, 1947, several black veterans and their families moved into the CHA Fernwood Park housing project at 104th and Halsted. Area residents viewed this as one of several attempts by the CHA to initiate racial integration into white communities.[1] A violent mob action resulted which lasted for three days and mobilized over 1,000 law enforcement officers to control.[2]
The police did little to stop the rioting, as was the case a year before at the Airport Homes race riots.[3]
Notes
- ^ Arnold R. Hirsch, (1998) "Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago 1940-1960", pg. 54. University of Chicago Press: 1998
- ^ Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1947, pg. 10. "1,000 Policemen keep order at Homes Project."
- ^ "Making the second ghetto: race and housing in Chicago, 1940-1960" by Arnold Richard Hirsch (1998)