This Day in History - Zinn Education Project

July 19, 1958: Dockum Drug Store Sit-In

On July 19, 1958, students Ron Walters, his cousin Carol Parks-Haun, and others organized a sit-in.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

July 19, 1919: White Mobs in Uniform Attack African Americans — Who Fight Back — in Washington, D.C.

White mobs, incited by the media, attacked African American soldiers returning from WWI and the African American community in Washington, D.C. This was one of the many violent events that summer and it was distinguished by strong and organized Black resistance to the white violence.

Themes: African American, Racism & Racial Identity

July 18, 1966: Hough Riots

Riots broke out in Cleveland following years of escalation of racial tension.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity

July 18, 1946: Murder of Maceo Snipes

WWII veteran Maceo Snipes was murdered after casting his vote in the Georgia Democratic Primary.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

July 17, 1944: Port Chicago Disaster and Mutiny

A deadly munitions explosion occurred at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California. When the surviving African Americans sailors demanded safer conditions before returning to work, they faced court martial and jail.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

July 16, 1944: Irene Morgan Refuses to Change Seats on Bus

Irene Morgan refused to change her seat on a segregated bus in Virginia.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Women's History

Elizabeth Jennings Graham | Zinn Education Project

July 16, 1854: Elizabeth Jennings Graham

Schoolteacher Elizabeth Jennings Graham successfully challenged racist streetcar policies in New York City.

Themes: African American, Laws & Citizen Rights, Women's History

July 15, 1978: The Longest Walk

The Longest Walk, a transcontinental trek for Native American justice, ended.

Themes: Native American

July 15, 1964: Ozell Sutton Denied Service at Arkansas Capitol Cafeteria

WWII vet Ozell Sutton was denied service at the Arkansas Capitol cafeteria after visiting the building to collect voter registration materials.

Themes: African American, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity

July 14, 1969: Soccer War

In 1969, a brief war broke out between Honduras and El Salvador.

Themes: Latinx, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

July 14, 1970: Young Lords Occupy Lincoln Hospital

The Young Lords occupied Lincoln Hospital’s major administrative building in response to deplorable treatment of people of color.

Themes: Civil Rights Movements, Latinx, Organizing

July 13, 1863: Draft Riots

The NYC Draft Riots were the largest civil insurrection in U.S. history besides the Civil War itself. White mobs attacked the African American community--committing murder and burning homes and institutions (including an orphanage.)

Themes: African American, Racism & Racial Identity, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

July 12, 1964: Henry Dee and Charles Moore Case

The bodies of Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, were found in the Mississippi River. They had been tortured and murdered by the Klan two months earlier.

Themes: African American, Racism & Racial Identity

July 12, 1917: The Bisbee Deportation

The Bisbee Deportation was the illegal deportation of more than 1,000 striking mine workers (IWW-led strike), their supporters, and citizen bystanders by 2,000 vigilantes.

Themes: Immigration, Labor, Latinx

July 11, 1964: Lemuel Penn Killed

Athens-area Ku Klux Klan members shot and killed WWII veteran and DCPS assistant superintendent Lemuel Penn.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Black and white photograph of a burning piano

July 11, 1951: Cicero Riot Over Housing Desegregation

Thousands of white people rioted after a young Black couple moved into an apartment in Cicero, Illinois, west of Chicago. They firebombed the building, overturned police cars, and threw stones at firefighters who tried to put out the fire.

Themes: African American, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity