King assassination riots

King assassination riots
Soldiers stand near ruined buildings in Washington, D.C.
Date	April–May, 1968
Location	Over 100 cities across the United States
Causes	Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Racial inequality
Methods	Rioting, looting, protesting, arson
Parties to the civil conflict
Black rioters U.S. National Guard Local U.S. police departments
Casualties
Death(s)	43+
Injuries	2,500+
Arrested	15,000+

The King assassination riots, also known as the Holy Week Uprising, was a wave of civil disturbance which swept the United States following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. They were the greatest wave of social unrest the United States experienced since the Civil War. Some of the biggest riots took place in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Kansas City.

The immediate cause of the rioting was the assassination of Dr. King. Not only was King a beloved leader in the civil rights movement, but also a major advocate for nonviolence. He was a symbol of direct engagement with the political system (as opposed to the separatist ideals of black nationalism). His death led to anger and disillusionment, and feelings that now only violent resistance to white racism could be effective.

The rioters were mostly black, but not all were poor. Middle-class blacks also demonstrated against systemic inequality. Although the media called these events “race riots,” there were few confirmed acts of violence between blacks and whites. White businesses tended to be targeted; however, while public and community buildings such as schools and churches were largely spared.

Compared to the previous summer of rioting, the number of fatalities was lower, largely attributed to new procedures instituted by the federal government, and orders not to fire on looters.

In New York City, mayor John Lindsay traveled directly into Harlem, telling black residents that he regretted King's death and was working against poverty. He is credited for averting major riots in New York with this direct response, although minor disturbances still erupted in the city. In Indianapolis, Robert F. Kennedy's speech on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. is credited with preventing a riot there. In Boston, rioting may have been averted by a James Brown concert taking place on the night of April 5.