Wilmington 1898: When white supremacists overthrew a US government

[maxrandb]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-us-canada-55648011

A violent mob, whipped into a frenzy by politicians, tearing apart a town to overthrow the elected government.

Following state elections in 1898, white supremacists moved into the US port of Wilmington, North Carolina, then the largest city in the state. They destroyed black-owned businesses, murdered black residents, and forced the elected local government - a coalition of white and black politicians - to resign en masse.

Historians have described it as the only coup in US history. Its ringleaders took power the same day as the insurrection and swiftly brought in laws to strip voting and civil rights from the state's black population. They faced no consequences.

[RKP5637]

1. SOS often repeats! This time I hope there are serious consequences AT ALL LEVELS! n/t

[niyad]

2. Thank you for this grim reminder.

[dalton99a]

3. "Registered African American voters dropped from 125,000 in 1896 to about 6,000 in 1902"

The Red Shirts militia intimidated and attacked black voters

[maxrandb]

6. As was intended.

Of course, from the article, the insurrectionist were honored and had Schools, Roads and Buildings named after them.

Yet, every time we talk about addressing and correcting this disgusting American legacy, we are portrayed as "extremist".

[Polybius]

7. That's the single most mustaches I've ever seen in one pic

Every one of them is a butcher.

[dalton99a]

8. +1. The current crop of insurrectionists loves facial hair

[CottonBear]

4. Lara Trump is from Wilmington, NC & is considering a run for the US Senate.

My NC relatives would all vote for her. They are “the Democrats are communists and socialists” type of Republicans.

[maxrandb]

5. They are the 1890 Democrats

A shameful legacy that democrats have been working for decades to overcome.

In fact, from reading the article, I think the current domocratic party is more like the "Fusionist".