1866 Memphis Massacre
1866 MEMPHIS MASSACRE
On May 1, 2 and 3, 1866, mobs of white men
led by law enforcement attacked black people
in the areas near South St. (aka Calhoun & G.E.
Patterson). By the end of the attack. the mobs
had lulled an estimated 46 black people: raped
several black women: and committed numerous
robberies, assaults and arsons. A congressional
lnvestigative committee reported that four
churches. twelve schools and 91 other dwelllngs
were burned. Although no one was ever prosecuted
for this massacre. It became a rallying cry In
the battle over the nation's reconstruction following
the Civil War. Ultimately. the outrage that followed
the massacre helped to ensure the adoption of
the 14th Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
NPR Story by Christopher Blank on this marker here
Submitted by Rob Sweeney