Washington, D.C. King assassination riots

damage washington store following riots.

the washington, d.c., riots of april 4–8, 1968, resulted in washington, along chicago , baltimore, receiving heaviest impact of 110 cities see unrest following king assassination.

the ready availability of jobs in growing federal government attracted many washington in 1960s, , middle class african-american neighborhoods prospered. despite end of legally mandated racial segregation, historic neighborhoods of shaw, h street northeast corridor, , columbia heights, centered @ intersection of 14th , u streets northwest, remained centers of african-american commercial life in city.

as word of king s murder james earl ray in memphis spread on evening of thursday, april 4, crowds began gather @ 14th , u. stokely carmichael led members of student nonviolent coordinating committee (sncc) stores in neighborhood demanding close out of respect. although polite @ first, crowd fell out of control , began breaking windows. 11pm, widespread looting had begun.

mayor-commissioner walter washington ordered damage cleaned next morning. however, anger still evident on friday morning when carmichael addressed rally @ howard, warning of violence. after close of rally, crowds walking down 7th street nw , in h street ne corridor came violent confrontations police. midday, numerous buildings on fire, , firefighters prevented responding crowds attacking bottles , rocks.

crowds of many 20,000 overwhelmed district s 3,100-member police force, , president lyndon b. johnson dispatched 13,600 federal troops, including 1,750 federalized d.c. national guard troops, assist them. marines mounted machine guns on steps of capitol , army troops 3rd infantry guarded white house. @ 1 point, on april 5, rioting reached within 2 blocks of white house before rioters retreated. occupation of washington largest of american city since civil war. mayor washington imposed curfew , banned sale of alcohol , guns in city. time city considered pacified on sunday, april 8, 1,200 buildings had been burned, including on 900 stores. damages reached $27 million.

the riots utterly devastated washington s inner city economy. destruction or closing of businesses, thousands of jobs lost, , insurance rates soared. made uneasy violence, city residents of races accelerated departure suburban areas, depressing property values. crime in burned out neighborhoods rose sharply, further discouraging investment.

on blocks, rubble remained decades. columbia heights , u street corridor did not begin recover economically until opening of u street , columbia heights metro stations in 1991 , 1999, respectively, while h street ne corridor remained depressed several years longer.

mayor-commissioner washington, last presidentially appointed mayor of washington, went on become city s first elected mayor.