It was on this day in 1863 that the worst riots in American history exploded in New York City. A military draft (for the Civil War) had just started in the city the day before and emotions were ugly. Quite a few of the working-class men were upset for a variety of reasons: Some resented being forced into the service; others were angry that the wealthy could buy their way out of the draft; quite a few didn’t want to compete with newly freed slaves for jobs. At 10am a crowd of about 500 people attacked the office where the draft was being held, smashing windows and setting the building on fire. The police were severely overwhelmed (The superintendent of the department was beaten unconscious and cut with a knife) and the state militia was in Pennsylvania providing support to the Union Army. The unchecked mob went on to burn down a hotel, the mayor’s house, two different police stations, and several other buildings. They tried to attack the offices of The New York Tribune, but staff members used a pair of Gatling guns to repel the rioters. Since freed slaves were seen as not only a threat to their jobs but also the reason for the war the citizens were being drafted into, any blacks that the group encountered were beaten, tortured and even killed. Later that night The Colored Orphan Asylum was set ablaze by the crowd, tho the police was successful in getting all the children out of the building before it was totally consumed. The riots would go on for three more days, finally being subdued when the state militia (with several thousand federal soldiers as well) returned from Gettysburg. Over 120 people were killed, including 11 black men that were lynched. Several thousand were injured, and over 50 buildings were destroyed by flames. The military draft in the city resumed before the month was over.
The earliest event that Wiki says happened on this day is “1174 – William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173–1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England” and the most recent is “2008 – War in Afghanistan: Taliban guerrillas attack NATO troops near the village of Wanat in the Waygal district in Afghanistan’s far eastern province of Nuristan.”
A few other things that also happened on this day are:
1923 – The Hollywood Sign (originally “Hollywoodland“) is dedicated.
1977 – New York City experiences an electrical blackout for over 25 hours. Rioting and looting ensues.
1985 – The Live Aid benefit concerts are held in Philadelphia, London, Sydney, and Moscow.
Slices of birthday cake go out to Gil Birmingham, Cameron Crowe, Cheech Marin, Roger McGuinn, Harrison Ford, Robert Forster, Patrick Stewart, and Johnny Gilbert.