It's unfortunate that the protests - thankfully, peaceful - in the aftermath of George Floyd's death continue unabated in the US. President Trump seems to have whipped up strong feelings and he seems to have lost 7 points in his approval ratings in a fresh survey that has been conducted. A hostile media and his Republican predecessor, George W Bush's stand along with Mitt Romney and Colin Powell make things difficult for the President.
It's sad to see riots and that too a prolonged one, in any country especially, because of a fault line between communities. It's my fond hope that the social unrest will come to an end soon and the US continues to be a land of everyone's dreams.
Here's a history of the colour prejudice over a period of time in the US.
* Manhattan, Jul 1863
The New York City draft riots wiped out Manhattan's black community after Congress passed a
law to draft working-class white men to fight in the American Civil War. The official number of
dead people were around 120.
* Memphis, May 1866
A shooting between white policeman and black civil war veterans in Tennessee led white mobs and
policemen to rampage through black neighbourhoods attacking, raping and killing black soldiers
and civilians. 48 people lost their lives. It led to the passing of the First Reconstruction Act 1867.
* New Orleans, Jul 1866
Around 44 were killed in a violent conflict between white Democrats and mostly black
Republicans after a crowd of freed slaves and Republicans in Louisiana protested the newly-
legislated Black Codes.
* Atlanta, Sep 1906
Armed white mobs attacked African Americans in Georgia city. According to the Atlanta History
Center, black Americans were hanged from lamp posts, shot, beaten or stabbed to death. At least
25 African Americans and two whites were officially reported to be killed. Unofficial estimates
put the toll as 100.
* Tulsa, May 1921
White mobs destroyed businesses, raped and murdered residents of the prosperous black district
of Greenwood, jealous of the success of the wealthiest African American community of the time
in the US. Attacks on the ground and bombing from private planes destroyed 'Black Wall Street'.
6,000 blacks were jailed and 39 were killed. Red Cross put the toll at over 300.
* Detroit, Jun 1943
Shortages in housing and jobs exacerbated by 400,000 new migrants, both black and white from
the South, sparked riots killing 34.
* Watts, Aug 1965
The Watts riots of Los Angeles occurred after an African-American parolee was stopped by cops.
34 died and over $40 million was lost in damages.
* Detroit, Jul 1967
A police raid of an unlicensed bar patronised by blacks ignited the 5-day-long '12th Street Riot',
in which 43 people died, 2,000 buildings destroyed and 7,300 people arrested.
* Los Angeles, Apr 1992
On 29 Apr, 63 people were killed in riots that broke out after 4 cops accused of violent excesses
and arrest of Rodney King were freed.
Source. The New Sunday Express.
My take.
The riots, always, turn out to be a disaster as anti-social elements and anti-nationals change the script
midway. It takes a lot of resources to bring that to an end.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Sabu's man came and took away
the water motor which requires rewinding of the core. It will be brought back only by tomorrow evening. The existing water in the overhead tank needs to be carefully used!
It's sad to see riots and that too a prolonged one, in any country especially, because of a fault line between communities. It's my fond hope that the social unrest will come to an end soon and the US continues to be a land of everyone's dreams.
Here's a history of the colour prejudice over a period of time in the US.
* Manhattan, Jul 1863
The New York City draft riots wiped out Manhattan's black community after Congress passed a
law to draft working-class white men to fight in the American Civil War. The official number of
dead people were around 120.
* Memphis, May 1866
A shooting between white policeman and black civil war veterans in Tennessee led white mobs and
policemen to rampage through black neighbourhoods attacking, raping and killing black soldiers
and civilians. 48 people lost their lives. It led to the passing of the First Reconstruction Act 1867.
* New Orleans, Jul 1866
Around 44 were killed in a violent conflict between white Democrats and mostly black
Republicans after a crowd of freed slaves and Republicans in Louisiana protested the newly-
legislated Black Codes.
* Atlanta, Sep 1906
Armed white mobs attacked African Americans in Georgia city. According to the Atlanta History
Center, black Americans were hanged from lamp posts, shot, beaten or stabbed to death. At least
25 African Americans and two whites were officially reported to be killed. Unofficial estimates
put the toll as 100.
* Tulsa, May 1921
White mobs destroyed businesses, raped and murdered residents of the prosperous black district
of Greenwood, jealous of the success of the wealthiest African American community of the time
in the US. Attacks on the ground and bombing from private planes destroyed 'Black Wall Street'.
6,000 blacks were jailed and 39 were killed. Red Cross put the toll at over 300.
* Detroit, Jun 1943
Shortages in housing and jobs exacerbated by 400,000 new migrants, both black and white from
the South, sparked riots killing 34.
* Watts, Aug 1965
The Watts riots of Los Angeles occurred after an African-American parolee was stopped by cops.
34 died and over $40 million was lost in damages.
* Detroit, Jul 1967
A police raid of an unlicensed bar patronised by blacks ignited the 5-day-long '12th Street Riot',
in which 43 people died, 2,000 buildings destroyed and 7,300 people arrested.
* Los Angeles, Apr 1992
On 29 Apr, 63 people were killed in riots that broke out after 4 cops accused of violent excesses
and arrest of Rodney King were freed.
Source. The New Sunday Express.
My take.
The riots, always, turn out to be a disaster as anti-social elements and anti-nationals change the script
midway. It takes a lot of resources to bring that to an end.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Sabu's man came and took away
the water motor which requires rewinding of the core. It will be brought back only by tomorrow evening. The existing water in the overhead tank needs to be carefully used!
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