Trenton, New Jersey King assassination riots
the trenton riots of 1968 major civil disturbance took place during week following assassination of civil rights leader martin luther king in memphis on april 4. race riots broke out nationwide following murder of civil rights activist. more 200 trenton businesses, in downtown, ransacked , burned. more 300 people, of them young black men, arrested on charges ranging assault , arson looting , violating mayor s emergency curfew. in addition 16 injured policemen, 15 firefighters treated @ city hospitals smoke inhalation, burns, sprains , cuts suffered while fighting raging blazes or injuries inflicted rioters. denizens of trenton s urban core pulled false alarms , throw bricks @ firefighters responding alarm boxes. experience, along similar experiences in other major cities, ended use of open-cab fire engines. interim measure, trenton fire department fabricated temporary cab enclosures steel deck plating until new equipment obtained. losses incurred downtown businesses estimated city $7 million, total of insurance claims , settlements came $2.5 million.
trenton s battle monument neighborhood hardest hit. since 1950s, north trenton had witnessed steady exodus of middle-class residents, , riots spelled end north trenton. 1970s, region had become 1 of blighted , crime-ridden in city, although gentrification in area revitalizing sections.
Comments
Post a Comment