Rochester 1964 race riot

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On July 24, 1964, a riot broke out in two of Rochester, New York's predominantly African-American wards. Peace was restored after three days, but only after the New York National Guard was called out by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. This was the first such use of the Guard in a northern city. Although the riot was blamed on "oustside agitators", all the rioters arrested were from the local area. This led to a reappraisal of old-time policies and practices which had not changed in face of a tripling of the African-American population in 10 years, mostly holding low-pay and low-skill jobs and living in substandard housing. An example of the policies was the fact that Rochester was the last city in New York state to implement a public housing program.

By the time the disturbance was over, four people were dead (three in a helicopter crash) and 350 injured. Almost a thousand people had been arrested and 204 stores had been either looted or damaged.

[edit] Lasting Effects

The Crescent, the area of Rochester where the riots took place, has never fully recovered. Today, the area is plagued with drugs and prostitution. The Crescent has now become more racially diverse with Puerto Rican immigrants now making up a large portion of the residents. School 22-Lincoln School, the main school serving the area, has below average reading scores and has multiple special education classes serving developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed students.

The riots may also have contributed to the flight of the middle-class out of the city into the suburbs. The lack of a strong middle-class and the high concentration of poverty in the city continue to plague it economically and socially!