A MULTPLE SOURCE COMPILATION OF HISTORICAL MASSACACRES On Oct. 24, in the Louisville suburb of Jeffersontown, Kentucky, a white man shot and killed two African Americans at the Kroger store. He had first tried to enter a Black church, however the doors were locked. The two people killed were Maurice Stallard and Vickie Lee Jones. Learn more from this October 30, 2018 story at Democracy Now!. On Oct. 27, a white man entered the Tree of Life synagogue with an AR-15 rifle and killed 11 worshippers (Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger, Daniel Stein, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Bernice Simon and Sylvan Simon.) The murderer was yelling, “All Jews must die.” Learn more from this October 29, 2018 story at Democracy Now!.
In American Hate: Survivors Speak Out, Arjun Singh Sethi, a community activist and civil rights lawyer, chronicles the stories of individuals affected by hate. In a series of powerful, unfiltered testimonials, survivors tell their stories in their own words and describe how the bigoted rhetoric and policies of the Trump administration have intensified bullying, discrimination, and even violence toward them and their communities.
We hear from the family of Khalid Jabara, who was murdered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August 2016 by a man who had previously harassed and threatened them because they were Arab American. Sethi brings us the story of Jeanette Vizguerra, an undocumented mother of four who took sanctuary in a Denver church in February 2017 because she feared deportation under Trump’s cruel immigration enforcement regime. Sethi interviews Taylor Dumpson, a young Black woman who was elected student body president at American University only to find nooses hanging across campus on her first day in office. We hear from many more people impacted by the Trump administration, including Native, Black, Arab, Latinx, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, undocumented, refugee, transgender, queer, and people with disabilities.
A necessary book for these times, American Hate explores this tragic moment in U.S. history by empowering survivors whose voices white supremacists and right-wing populist movements have tried to silence. It also provides ideas and practices for resistance that all of us can take to combat hate both now and in the future. [Publisher’s description.]
ISBN: 9781620973714 | Published by The New Press.
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Lesson There is a free downloadable lesson based on readings from American Hate called, “American Hate: Lessons from Survivors” by Alison Kysia. Through a mystery activity, participants investigate why hate crimes are underreported and undercounted. Participants create an intervention project based on the recommendations of survivors. As a result, they learn about the positive role that activism can have in their lives and the lives of others. The lesson was developed as part of Challenge Islamophobia with Education, a project of Teaching for Change, because Muslims are one of many groups who have experienced an increase in hate crimes.
Video The Polis Project’s Suchitra Vijayan in conversation with American Hate author, Arjun Singh Sethi.
On June 17, 2015, nine African American churchgoers were gunned down inside Charleston’s historic Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in an act of white supremacist terrorism. The nine people murdered were:
● Clementa C. Pinckney (41)
● Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd (54)
● Susie Jackson (87)
● Ethel Lee Lance (70)
● Depayne Middleton-Doctor (49)
● Tywanza Sanders (26)
● Daniel L. Simmons (74)
● Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (45)
● Myra Thompson (59)
We recommend two articles for this day by Rev. William J. Barber, II, “The True Charleston Killer Remains at Large: Racism, poverty and violence are the real killers in America” and the sermon Barber gave in January of 2016 at Riverside Church (with references to the massacre in San Bernadino). Barber talks about the moral compass needed to guide the U.S. forward on a path of justice in “The Misdiagnosis of Terrorism.”
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TEACHING GUIDES Teaching for Black Lives Teaching Guide. Edited by Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, Wayne Au. 368 pages. 2018. Rethinking Schools.
Essays, teaching activities, role plays, poems, and artwork, designed to illuminate the movement for Black students’ lives, the school-to-prison-pipeline, Black history, gentrification, intersectional Black identities, and more.
On August 5, 2012, a white supremacist entered the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, in Oak Creek, and shot 10 worshipers, killing six and wounding four. When the police arrived, an officer shot and wounded the terrorist, who subsequently committed suicide.
In American Hate: Survivors Speak Out, Arjun Singh Sethi, a community activist and civil rights lawyer, chronicles the stories of individuals affected by hate. In a series of powerful, unfiltered testimonials, survivors tell their stories in their own words and describe how the bigoted rhetoric and policies of the Trump administration have intensified bullying, discrimination, and even violence toward them and their communities.
We hear from the family of Khalid Jabara, who was murdered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August 2016 by a man who had previously harassed and threatened them because they were Arab American. Sethi brings us the story of Jeanette Vizguerra, an undocumented mother of four who took sanctuary in a Denver church in February 2017 because she feared deportation under Trump’s cruel immigration enforcement regime. Sethi interviews Taylor Dumpson, a young Black woman who was elected student body president at American University only to find nooses hanging across campus on her first day in office. We hear from many more people impacted by the Trump administration, including Native, Black, Arab, Latinx, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, undocumented, refugee, transgender, queer, and people with disabilities.
A necessary book for these times, American Hate explores this tragic moment in U.S. history by empowering survivors whose voices white supremacists and right-wing populist movements have tried to silence. It also provides ideas and practices for resistance that all of us can take to combat hate both now and in the future. [Publisher’s description.]
ISBN: 9781620973714 | Published by The New Press.
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Lesson There is a free downloadable lesson based on readings from American Hate called, “American Hate: Lessons from Survivors” by Alison Kysia. Through a mystery activity, participants investigate why hate crimes are underreported and undercounted. Participants create an intervention project based on the recommendations of survivors. As a result, they learn about the positive role that activism can have in their lives and the lives of others. The lesson was developed as part of Challenge Islamophobia with Education, a project of Teaching for Change, because Muslims are one of many groups who have experienced an increase in hate crimes.
Video The Polis Project’s Suchitra Vijayan in conversation with American Hate author, Arjun Singh Sethi. Massacres in U.S. History
Here is a list of some of the countless massacres in the history of the United States.
Most of these massacres were designed to suppress voting rights, land ownership, economic advancement, education, freedom of the press, religion, LGBTQ rights, and/or labor rights of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, and immigrants. While often referred to as “race riots,” they were massacres to maintain white supremacy.
One of the best explanations about why it is important for students to learn this history is included in the article (and related lesson) by Linda Christensen, Burning Tulsa: The Legacy of Black Dispossession.
A tweet thread by historian Stephen West shows how politicians fueled hate crimes during the Reconstruction era, with parallels today. Ursula Wolfe-Rocca writes about Red Summer of 1919, Remembering Red Summer — Which Textbooks Seem Eager to Forget.
We also offer a list of massacres that includes these same events and massacres in other countries. While this list includes dozens of entries, it is by no means complete.
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Oct. 24 and 27, 2018: Hate Crimes in Kentucky and Pennsylvania Two hate crime shootings in one week, one of African Americans in Kentucky and the other of Jews in Pittsburgh June 17, 2015: Charleston Church Massacre Nine African American churchgoers were gunned down inside a church in an act of white supremacist terrorism.
Aug. 5, 2012: The Sikh Temple of Wisconsin Massacre A white supremacist shot and killed six members of the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Nov. 3, 1979: Greensboro Massacre Five people were killed when the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis fired on an anti-Klan rally in Greensboro, North Carolina.
June 24, 1973: UpStairs Lounge Massacre
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The largest LGBTQ massacre in U.S. history (until the Orlando Massacre) occurred at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans.
Feb. 8, 1968: Orangeburg Massacre Two years before the Kent State murders, 28 students were injured and three were killed in Orangeburg, SC — most shot in the back by the state police while involved in a peaceful protest. May 30, 1937: Memorial Day Massacre On Memorial Day, Chicago Police Department shot and killed ten unarmed demonstrators in Chicago.
March 21, 1937: Ponce Massacre Police shot peaceful protesters, killing 19 and wounding over 200 others in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Dec. 29, 1923: Terror Attack on African Americans in Catcher, Arkansas
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The Catcher "Race Riot" began, leading to the creation of another sundown town.
Jan. 1, 1923: Rosewood Massacre The Rosewood Massacre was the white supremacist destruction of a Black town and the murder of many of its residents.
May 31, 1921: Tulsa Massacre
In what became known as the Tulsa Massacre, white supremacists destroyed a thriving Black community in Oklahoma. This is one of countless white supremacist massacres in U.S. history.
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Nov. 2, 1920: The Ocoee Massacre More than 50 African Americans killed in the Ocoee Massacre after going to vote in Florida.
Nov. 22, 1919: Bogalusa Labor Massacre The Bogalusa Labor Massacre was an attack on interracial labor solidarity.
Sept. 30, 1919: Elaine Massacre Black farmers were massacred in Elaine, Arkansas for their efforts to fight for better pay and higher cotton prices. A white mob shot at them, and the farmers returned fire in self-defense. Estimates range from 100-800 killed, and 67 survivors were indicted for inciting violence.
July 27, 1919: Riot in Chicago
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Sparked by a white police officer's refusal to make an arrest in the murder of a Black teenager, Chicago's Red Summer violence lasted almost a week. At least 38 people were killed and thousands of Black homes were looted and damaged.
July 19, 1919: White Mobs in Uniform Attack African Americans — Who Fight Back — in Washington, D.C. White mobs, incited by the media, attacked the African American community in Washington, D.C., and African American soldiers returning from WWI. This was one of the many violent events that summer and it was distinguished by strong and organized Black resistance to the white violence.
Jan. 28, 1918: Porvenir Massacre
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Fifteen Mexican-Americans were killed by Texas Rangers during the Porvenir Massacre.
April 20, 1914: Ludlow Massacre The National Guard fired on striking miners and their families in Ludlow, Colorado.
July 29, 1910: Slocum Massacre in Texas Citizens in the small, predominately African American town of Slocum, Texas, were massacred.
Aug. 14, 1908: Springfield Massacre
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Springfield Massacre was committed against African Americans by a mob of about 5,000 white people in Springfield, Illinois.
Nov. 10, 1898: Wilmington Massacre The interracial, elected Reconstruction era local government was deposed in a coup d’etat in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Oct. 12, 1898: Battle of Virden A small band of striking coal miners in southern Illinois called out Chicago coal barons and stood their ground at Virden.
Sept. 10, 1897: Lattimer Massacre Nineteen mineworkers were killed and dozens were wounded in the Lattimer Massacre.
Aug. 5, 1896: Polk County Massacre White workers murdered Black workers in Arkansas who were coming to work on railways.
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Dec. 29, 1890: Wounded Knee Massacre A Lakota encampment on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation was attacked by the U.S. Army and close to 300 Native Americans were murdered near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. Massacres in U.S. History
Here is a list of some of the countless massacres in the history of the United States.
Most of these massacres were designed to suppress voting rights, land ownership, economic advancement, education, freedom of the press, religion, LGBTQ rights, and/or labor rights of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, and immigrants. While often referred to as “race riots,” they were massacres to maintain white supremacy.
One of the best explanations about why it is important for students to learn this history is included in the article (and related lesson) by Linda Christensen, Burning Tulsa: The Legacy of Black Dispossession.
A tweet thread by historian Stephen West shows how politicians fueled hate crimes during the Reconstruction era, with parallels today. Ursula Wolfe-Rocca writes about Red Summer of 1919, Remembering Red Summer — Which Textbooks Seem Eager to Forget.
We also offer a list of massacres that includes these same events and massacres in other countries. While this list includes dozens of entries, it is by no means complete.
Nov. 23, 1887: Thibodaux Massacre
Between 30-60 striking Black Louisiana sugarcane workers were massacred. Sept. 2, 1885: Rock Springs Massacre
White coal miners in Rock Springs, Wyoming, brutally attacked the Chinese workers.
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Nov. 3, 1883: Danville Riot
African Americans voters were threatened after the Danville Riot, leading to their loss of political power in this majority African American city in Virginia.
July 8, 1876: Hamburg Massacre
A Black militia was accused of blocking a road and punished with the Hamburg Massacre. This was Reconstruction era voter suppression.
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Sept. 4, 1875: Clinton, Mississippi Massacre
Nearly 50 African-Americans were killed by white mobs during the Clinton Riot.
Dec. 7, 1874: Vicksburg Massacre
Whites attacked and killed many Black citizens who had organized for a Black sheriff to remain in office during the Vicksburg Massacre.
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Nov. 3, 1874: White League Attacks Black Voters
Deadly election "riots" took place in Barbour County, Alabama against African-American politicians and voters.
April 13, 1873: Colfax Massacre
The KKK carried out the Colfax Massacre in response to a Republican victory in the 1872 elections.
Dec. 28, 1872: Skeleton Cave Massacre
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The Yavapai people's shelter of Skeleton Cave in Arizona was attacked by the U.S. Army, trying to force them to reservations.
Oct. 25, 1868: St. Bernard Parish Massacre
The St. Bernard Parish (Louisiana) massacre of African Americans was carried out by white men to terrorize the recently emancipated voters.
Sept. 28, 1868: Opelousas Massacre
In response to the promotion of voter registration, a KKK like group massacred hundreds of people, most who were African American.
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Sept. 19, 1868: Camilla Massacre
As African Americans marched peacefully in response to their expulsion from elected office, more than a dozen were massacred near Albany, Georgia.
July 30, 1866: New Orleans Massacre
The New Orleans Massacre occurred when white residents attacked Black marchers near the reconvened Louisiana Constitutional Convention.
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May 3, 1866: Memphis Massacre
White civilians and police killed 46 African-Americans and injured many more while burning houses, schools, and churches in Memphis, Tennessee.
Dec. 9, 1864: Ebenezer Creek Massacre
People who had escaped from slavery and were following the Union Army, were blocked from crossing the Ebenezer Creek, leading to their death.
Nov. 29, 1864: Sand Creek Massacre
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A Colorado Cavalry unit, acting on orders from Colorado's governor and ignoring a white surrender flag flying just below a U.S. flag, brutally attacked Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.
April 12, 1864: Union Soldiers Massacred at Fort Pillow
Confederate troops massacred over 500 surrendering Union soldiers, majority African American, at the Civil War Battle of Fort Pillow.
July 13, 1863: Draft Riots
The NYC Draft Riots were the largest civil insurrection in U.S. history besides the Civil War itself. White mobs attacked the African American community--committing murder and burning homes and institutions (including an orphanage.)
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Aug. 6, 1855: Bloody Monday
On election day, in Louisville, Kentucky, Protestant mobs attacked German and Irish Catholic neighborhoods. July 27, 1816: Attack on Apalachicola River
A fort on the Apalachicola River in Florida was fire bombed by the U.S. Army.
May 26, 1637: Pequot Massacre Hundreds of Pequot villagers were massacred by the Puritans in Mystic, Connecticut.
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