Louisville King assassination riots

the 1968 louisville riots refers riots in louisville, kentucky, in may 1968. in many other cities around country, there unrest , riots partially in response assassination. on may 27, 1968, group of 400 people, blacks, gathered @ twenty-eight , greenwood streets, in parkland neighborhood. intersection, , parkland in general, had become important location louisville s black community, local naacp branch had moved office there.

the crowd protesting possible reinstatement of white officer had been suspended beating african-american man weeks earlier. several community leaders arrived , told crowd no decision had been reached, , alluded disturbances in future if officer reinstated. 8:30, crowd began disperse.

however, rumors (which turned out untrue) spread student nonviolent coordinating committee speaker stokely carmichael s plane louisville being intentionally delayed whites. after bottles thrown crowd, crowd became unruly , police called. small , unprepared police response upset crowd more, continued grow. police, including captain hit in face bottle, retreated, leaving behind patrol car, turned on , burned.

by midnight, rioters had looted stores far east fourth street, overturned cars , started fires.

within hour, mayor kenneth a. schmied requested 700 kentucky national guard troops , established citywide curfew. violence , vandalism continued rage next day, had subdued may 29. business owners began return, although troops remained until june 4. police made 472 arrests related riots. 2 african-american teenagers had died, , $200,000 in damage had been done.

the disturbances had longer-lasting effect. white business owners pulled out or forced out of parkland , surrounding areas. white residents left west end, had been entirely white north of broadway, subdivision until 1960s. riot have effects shaped image whites hold of louisville s west end, predominantly black , crime-ridden.