Interracial Solidarity and White Supremacist Attacks

Throughout U.S. history, white supremacy has used violence and intimidation to try prevent white people from crossing the line in acts of interracial solidarity. Here are just a few of those examples from the Abolition movement, Reconstruction, the U.S. Mexico War, labor organizing, and the Civil Rights Movement. There are countless more.

Aug. 20, 1965: Jonathan Daniels Killed

Jonathan Myrick Daniels was shot dead in broad daylight in Lowndes County after being released from jail for picketing stores that denied entry to African Americans.

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portrait of Viola Liuzzo

March 25, 1965: Viola Liuzzo Murdered by KKK After Selma to Montgomery March

Viola Liuzzo (April 11, 1925 – March 25, 1965), Civil Rights activist, was murdered in 1965 by the KKK after the Selma to Montgomery March.

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March 11, 1965: Rev. James Reeb Murdered in Selma

Rev. James Reeb died as a result of being severely beaten by a group of white men during Bloody Sunday in Selma two days earlier.

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Sept. 5, 1964: Heffners Forced Out of Town for Crossing Color Line

A white family (the Heffners) in McComb, Mississippi, left after a campaign of harassment, ostracism, and economic retaliation for having spoken to civil rights workers.

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Missing persons poster created by the FBI in 1964, shows the photographs of Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner.

June 21, 1964: Three Civil Rights Workers Murdered in Mississippi

James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were tortured and murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Neshoba County, Mississippi.

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April 3, 1934: Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union

The Southern Tenant Farmers Union broke away from a larger organization and became a racially integrated workers union.

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Bogalusa, La. lumber mill | Zinn Education Project

Nov. 22, 1919: Bogalusa Labor Massacre, Attack on Interracial Solidarity

The Bogalusa Labor Massacre was an attack on interracial labor solidarity in Louisiana.

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F.M.B. "Marsh" Cook | ZInn Education Project

July 23, 1890: F. M. B. “Marsh” Cook Killed

F. M. B. “Marsh” Cook, a white man, was killed for standing up against the white supremacist 1890 Mississippi Constitutional Convention.

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Nov. 29, 1864: Sand Creek Massacre

A Colorado Cavalry unit, on orders from Colorado’s governor and ignoring a surrender flag, brutally attacked Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. White abolitionist Silas Soule was assassinated for reporting on the event.

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Dec. 2, 1859: John Brown Executed

Abolitionist John Brown was executed by the state of Virginia for leading the infamous Harpers Ferry Raid.

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Charles Sumner Speech 1856

May 19, 1856: Charles Sumner Crime Against Kansas Speech

Charles Sumner delivered a speech denouncing slavery and the need for Kansas to become a free state.

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Elijah Lovejoy Warehouse

Nov. 7, 1837: Elijah Parish Lovejoy Murdered

Minister, journalist, newspaper editor, and abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy was murdered by a pro-slavery mob.

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