War on the Streets of War on the Streets of OmahaOmaha

The 1919 RiotThe 1919 Riot

Summer 1919Summer 1919

► It’s a hot a humid summer in OmahaIt’s a hot a humid summer in Omaha► Crime is at an all time high for the City of OmahaCrime is at an all time high for the City of Omaha► More and more Black men are taking the blame for More and more Black men are taking the blame for

violent crimes in the cityviolent crimes in the city► Dennison’s men are blackening their faces w/ shoe Dennison’s men are blackening their faces w/ shoe

polish to appear as Black men, then commit crimespolish to appear as Black men, then commit crimes► The The Omaha BeeOmaha Bee exaggerates the stories exaggerates the stories► Omaha’s Black paper the Omaha’s Black paper the Omaha MonitorOmaha Monitor is is

outragedoutraged

Milton and Agnes go on a Milton and Agnes go on a datedate

► Friday 26 Sept 1919Friday 26 Sept 1919► 19 yr old Agnes Loebeck & her 19 yr old Agnes Loebeck & her

boyfriend Milton Hoffman go boyfriend Milton Hoffman go out for ice cream one nightout for ice cream one night

► As they neared Agnes’s house, As they neared Agnes’s house, a man jumped out from behind a man jumped out from behind a tree threw Milton to the a tree threw Milton to the groundground

► Next, he threw Agnes over his Next, he threw Agnes over his shoulder and dashed off w/ her shoulder and dashed off w/ her and sexually assaulted her.and sexually assaulted her.

► Milton finds Agnes and takes Milton finds Agnes and takes her homeher home

► Her father wants blood!Her father wants blood!► Agnes gives a description as a Agnes gives a description as a

large “black man”large “black man”

Black men are rounded upBlack men are rounded up

► Police begin to arrest and Police begin to arrest and question every Black man question every Black man they can find.they can find.

► Not one man has a “prior”, Not one man has a “prior”, they had to go to Council they had to go to Council Bluffs to find a guy w/ a priorBluffs to find a guy w/ a prior

► Sunday, 28 Sept 1919Sunday, 28 Sept 1919► Will Brown is arrested and Will Brown is arrested and

taken to Agnes’ house so taken to Agnes’ house so she can ID himshe can ID him

► When he walks in the room When he walks in the room in cuffs she screams “That’s in cuffs she screams “That’s him!” and faintshim!” and faints

► Will Brown is taken to the Will Brown is taken to the Douglas Co Courthouse Douglas Co Courthouse

A Mob Begins to FormA Mob Begins to Form

► Will brown is locked up and Will brown is locked up and mob of high school students mob of high school students and adults gather and adults gather numbering 5Knumbering 5K

► The mob demands Brown, The mob demands Brown, the guards try to hide him in the guards try to hide him in the building, then on the the building, then on the roofroof

► The Mob storms the building The Mob storms the building and finds Brown. They take and finds Brown. They take to the streetto the street

► On the way out of the On the way out of the building he is knocked outbuilding he is knocked out

The Courthouse todayThe Courthouse today

Vigilantly JusticeVigilantly Justice

► The Mob drags Brown The Mob drags Brown outside to the streetoutside to the street

► He is hanged and shot while He is hanged and shot while he was hanginghe was hanging

► He was cut down, dragged He was cut down, dragged behind a car, then burnedbehind a car, then burned

► Mayor Ed Smith tried to Mayor Ed Smith tried to reason w/ the Mob and was reason w/ the Mob and was hanged along w/ Brownhanged along w/ Brown

► 2 Central High School 2 Central High School Baseball players rushed Baseball players rushed through the crowd and cut through the crowd and cut down the Mayor and rushed down the Mayor and rushed him to the hospital – he livedhim to the hospital – he lived

The Riot moves NorthThe Riot moves North► The rioters head north along The rioters head north along

2424thth Street looking for any Street looking for any Black people to go afterBlack people to go after

► Black Businesses are trashedBlack Businesses are trashed► Soldiers from Fort Omaha Soldiers from Fort Omaha

are sent in to take the city are sent in to take the city streets backstreets back

► Buildings & cars are set on Buildings & cars are set on fire, etc.fire, etc.

► 1600 armed soldiers arrive1600 armed soldiers arrive► Machine gun nests are set Machine gun nests are set

up on nearly every cornerup on nearly every corner► A huge rain storm moves in A huge rain storm moves in

putting out all the fires and putting out all the fires and quieting the riot.quieting the riot.

The Grand Jury InvestigationThe Grand Jury Investigation

► In the end, Police Commissioner Roy Towl is In the end, Police Commissioner Roy Towl is convinced that Dennison is involvedconvinced that Dennison is involved

► 8 Deaths8 Deaths► Dennison was in Los Angeles during the riotDennison was in Los Angeles during the riot► Dennison owned the cab company that was giving Dennison owned the cab company that was giving

free service downtown that nightfree service downtown that night► Alcohol was provided to passengersAlcohol was provided to passengers► It was said that Dennison paid off cops to “call in It was said that Dennison paid off cops to “call in

sick” that daysick” that day► Nothing stuck…..Nothing stuck…..

The findings afterwardsThe findings afterwards► Will brown was handicapped, Will brown was handicapped,

he had arthritis in his arms he had arthritis in his arms and handsand hands

► He was fired from the meat He was fired from the meat packing plant because he packing plant because he could not workcould not work

► There was no way that he There was no way that he could have picked up Agnescould have picked up Agnes

► Milton Hoffman disappeared Milton Hoffman disappeared to Denver to sit out the riot (it to Denver to sit out the riot (it was said that he planned it)was said that he planned it)

► He worked for Dennison’s He worked for Dennison’s friend therefriend there

► Milton ended up marrying Milton ended up marrying Agnes who died in the 1970’s Agnes who died in the 1970’s

Through the gate & up & to the left

Will BrownWill Brown