davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Key Factors

Despite this experience, spon-
sors and school officials with
knowledge Of the Police De-
partment promoted the 1862
gridiron battle without formu-
lating a system Of sound safe
guards and prevention. Here
are some Of the important
factors the committee believes
produced the charged atmos-
phere and tension which set
the stage for violence:
T. over commercidiisdtion
For the past decade, the game
has grown into an unwieldy
institution with a Sportsman
ship theme but Of necessity a
commercial promotion. In urg-
ing the public TO purchase
tickets, promoters used the gim-
mick Of "a grudge battle" which
created a climate, according TO
many students and officials. Of
an intense and passionate de-
sire for victory There were
reports that principals we're re-
quired 10 sell at their school
buildings certain amounts Of
tickets 10 the game-even TO
outsiders who entered their
buildings and interfered with
normal school programming.
One public high school princi-
pal claimed he was "exhorted"
to sell 5000 tickets by superiors.
Even with many OF the princi-
Evening star., 1963-01-09

1t was estimated that approx
imately 5000 persons were in
volved in the incidents at Gate
E. Police officers reported the
impoSsibility of making arrests
because of the size and temper
of the crowd and the numerous
assaults taking place stimuli
taneously.
The disorder and assaults
spread northward. The worst
of these were at Eighteenth and
D streets NE. and Twenty first
street and Benning road NE.
Several arrests were made at
these locations. There was also
trouble at Twenty-first and E
streets NE. There were nun
dreds of persons at these loca-
tions. There we're fights in the
groups and numerous reports of
rocks being thrown.
1t was reported that Negro
residents Of the neighborhood
viewed the occurrences as dis
graceful. Some of these Negro
families opened their homes to
white persons to protect them
from the mob.
Inside the stadium one Of
ficer reported he was assisted
by two Negro male adults in
breaking up a group of Negroes
who had attacked a white girl.
One officer reported his
motorcycle was overturned by
a group of Negroes. He was
calling for assistance and just
managed to get off the motor
cycle before it was overturned.
At Gate E and at Twenty
first and E streets NE. dogs
we're used to bring the crowd
under control. At Twenty-first
and Benning road NE, a police
dog was kicked by a Negro male
who also struck at the officer
When the officer attempted an
arrest he was jumped on by
others and struck on the head
and kicked. Rocks and bottles
were thrown at the officer.
At Oklahoma avenue and
Benning road NE, a police dog
was kicked by a Negro male.
At Twenty first and Ben
ming road NE. an officer was
pursuing a Negro male who had
a rock in his hand. He was
pushed down a hill and his
police dog was kicked.
At all Of the locations men,
toned there we're reports Of
large crowds fighting, cursing
and throwing rocks and bottles.
One officer was spit upon.
-Four were struck by thrown
bottles. One was struck on the
head by some object.
Evening star., 1963-01-09
School Standards Hit

Since 1854, the date of inte-
grafton. many students, both
white and colored, have found
the training OF our d. c Public
Schools an adequate and often
exemplary base for immediate
positions in the business world
or for advanced education,
However the rapid growth In
numbers Of Negro pupils many
with low mental rating
coupled with increasing crowd
ing OF facilities, neutralized
the academic standards Of the
education system in d. c.
Placing the Negro children
with the white eight years age
was desegregation, not integra-
tion. Only too prevalent was
the pattern Of the Negroes and
the whites continuing to segye-
gate themselves within the
same school. In undertaking.
any process. there are two
methods. the easy and tho
hard: usually the first Is the
less effective SO II appears 10
have been with the laudable
step 10 blend the races IN our
American schools
Integration is a most COM
plicated undertaking II is not
accomplished simply by open
ing classroom doors. II is not
brought about by a paper de-
cision 10 recognize the rights
OF fellow citizens. It is not
achieved by an emotional urge
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Negroes Offer Help

Two persons stated a Negro
neighbor opened her home to
several injured white boys. An
other Negro stated he told sew
eral white boys TO come up on
his porch but they ran away and
he saw them attacked by Ne
groes. Another Negro resident
permitted white boys 10 stay on
her porch. One stated she went
TO the assistance Of a white boy
who had been assaulted by
Negroes.
"One Negro resident stated a
Negro youth brought a white
youth 10 her door. Both had
been beaten. Al the same time
four other white youths ran up
and she took all six into her
home. They too had been beat
en-. They remained there until
the police arrived. Another
Negro neighbor went 10 the
assistance OF this resident and
both of them went into the
street TO assist white persons.
None OF the persons inter-
viewed could identify any OF the
attackers. From the residents
In this neighborhood, however,
the following views we're ex-
pressed:
/. The assaults were unpro-
yoked and committed by one
segment OF Negroes on white
persons and on other Negroes
who came 10 their aid.
2 There appeared to be con-
siderable drinking,
3 Many were angry because
Eastern lost the game.
Evening star., 1963-01-09

4. A group Of Spingarn stu
dents attempted to stop the
assaults and aid the victims.
S. The majority Of the dis
orderly crowd were not stu
dents.
6. The residents deplored this
behavior and will discuss the
matter with their Civic Assoc
iations.
7. They were complimentary
of the action taken by police
officers. Additional information
on the rioting compiled by
police included:
A reported 554 cases Of per-
sonal or property damage are
known. Police estimate there
are many others. In letters to
the committee, more instances
of violence and attack are de-
scribed, making the toll of vic
tins of the Thanksgiving Day
game a nightmare to decent
citizens.
Police reported a total of AZ
persons officially recorded as
having been injured. Investi-
cation disclosed two additional
injuries, the police brought out,
emphasizing that there is no
doubt that there were many
assaults which we're not re-
ported to the police"
Of the seven Negros injured,
one was struck by a Negro on
the street after the game. He
stated this was caused by his
being with a girl and had no
connection with the game. Two
we're injured by objects during
the game which were thrown
by unknown persons; two were
cut on the buttocks while leav-
ing the stadium, one thought
the assailant was a Negro male
but the other stated the as
sailant was unknown. One was
struck by a Negro male during
the game and the other injury
was sustained during the alter
cation with a group of Negroes
during the game.
Of the 35 white persons in
jured, 80 of them stated they
we're attacked by Negroes,
mostly in groups. Three we're
unable to specify the color of
their attackers nor give any
description.
In a survey of injured stu
dents, and relatives, and listing
Of property damage suffered by
them, Monsignor John S.
Spence. Director of Education,
Archdiocese of Washington, re-
ported a grand total of ABS
cases.
A public school survey of in
jured students listed q from
nine schools.
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Coach Is Blamed

In examining what it consid- =
cred a chain of events which
triggered such a frightful up
rising. the committee found no
incident which could singly be
blamed for touching off the
riot. If there were one that
seemed to fit the requirement,
it probably was the disgraceful
conduct Of the Eastern coach
and his ousted player. To
charge this pair with sole guilt
for touching off such an ave-
some climax, would perhaps,
take out Of context their un-
fortunate role and make them
the scapegoats for a shocking
laxity of the sponsors, the
Washington Post, the Touch
down Club, and those school
officials in both Public and
Catholic Leagues who served as
members of the Championship
Game Committee. These parties
showed an amazing lack of
awareneSs of the inflammable
potential as illustrated by the
uncivilized behavior.
This insensitiveness was un-
fortunate because for the past
several years misconduct has
plagued athletic events of the
public schools-and even, the
Schoolboy classic as far back
as 1856. During the intervening
years, school officials have done
little to curb this type of vio-
lence at school athletic con-
tests. Unable to cope with the
misconduct problem at smaller
games, school officials none
theless approved a city-wide
game drawing more than 5O,-
600 spectators, unpicked and
unknown. and under Outside"
auspices. Several guests men
toned that a committee should
have been named several years
ago to probe violence and mis-
conduct at school athletic
events.
AS recent as the 1861 Thanks
giving Day game, the first high
school game at the stadium.
police reported difficulties of
an alarming degree. Almost
$4,000 attended the game be-
tween st. Johns and Eastern.
According to police, one student
was beaten on a parking lot
after the game and there was
considerable vandalism to the
stadium during the game. At
the close Of the annual Turkey
Day game in 1859, spectators
rushed onto the field, accord
ing to police. A player was
stabbed. Another person was
struck by a chain Seventeen
Q0 other incidents were re-
ported To police
Evening star., 1963-01-09
WoIIrodt's Report

In the official report, Deputy
Chief of Police George r. Wall
rodt, detailed the game prepar-
ationS:
"On Thursday, November %,
I was working 8 am. to S pm.
as acting chief of police. I
responded to the D. c. Stadium
just before the opening of the
gates at 9 am. to check the de-
tails and observe conditions.
A total of 104 policemen (6
plainclotheSmen from Juvenile
Squad were assigned to police
the inside, gates, and walks i'm
mediately adjacent to the sta
dium under the command of
Capt. John J. Kinney. A total
Of 80 police officers were de-
tailed outside the immediate
vicinity of the stadium for
traffic control under the COM
mand Of Inspector Louis B..
Peters. These traffic control
officers were directed to report
inside the stadium after the
game started to supplement the
men inside the stadium. They
returned TO their traffic assign
ments at the end of the third
quarter Of the football game.
Inspector Peters and Capt.
Kinney submitted their details
and plans to me for approval
several days before the game.
After a briefing by these two Of
ficials and a careful study OF
the overall picture, concurred
In their arrangements, which
under ordinary circumstances
would have proved more than
adequate. Prior TO leaving Head
quarters on the morning OF
November %. l directed the
acting captain Of the Commu-
nications and Records Bureau
that IN the event Of any dis
turbance, 10 bring into i'm
mediate proximity OF the
stadium all mobile units in the
fifth. ninth, eleventh and
fourteenth precincts. This was
done as evidenced by the tran
script Of radio calls submitted
In the report OF Capt. Kinney"
Later. in the police report,
Deputy Chief John E. Winters.
Youth Aid Division, wrote:
I'm preparation for the 1862
contest several meetings were
held by the committee handling
all Of the details. Police Off
cials having a direct RESPONSE
bility for providing police serv-
ice for the game were In con-
slant touch with this commit
tee, A realistic eyaluation had
10 be made on the basis OF the
racial makeup OF the two schools
involved. Eastern High School
has a predominantly Negro Cn-
rollment and ST. Johns is
predominantly white. one fact
that was considered was the
Eastern victory in 1861 and the
absence Of incidents following
that game in which the same
two schools participated. Even.
Qualities that might occur from
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Sef-ControI Logs

For the colored as we'll as the
white. it must be acknowledged
that lawbreaking anywhere-at
school, in the street, or in a
stadium--is not the result Of
being underprivileged. Breaking
the law results from a funda-
mental lack of self discipline.
Social background unquestion-
ably affords some Of the reasons
for malcontent, but persons, If
they are to be contributive citi-
zens, must learn to rise above
their environment. While ineq-
uities of citizenship can never
be condoned, it must be rec
ogniZed that sometimes it takes
years and years to remove them.
In the meantime, those so
affected must learn to control
themselves.
Racial hatred Of fellow Amer
leans is intolerable whether it
be white against Negro or
Negro against white. We are all
American citizens. AS our Negro
citizens develop social maturity
they must differentiate between
those who would exploit their
condition for proximate or
ultimate political purposes and
the white citizens who want
them to enjoy the full and un-
hampered benefits of American
citizenship. Negroes must have
confidence in the latter. With
this approach, Negro achieve
will be notable and last
ing. Without this, suspicion and
bitterness inevitably continue.
Mutual confidence of this
kind between the races was ex-
hibited in all our committee
discussions
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Law Disregorded
e. Atmosphere of lawIessness,

Z. AthHOSphCAc VI AdWhCSohCSS'
Testimony before the full COM
mittee developed an awareness
of administrative lack of con-
troll over hoodlum elements in
the school system and a de-
teriorating condition in mass
audience events outside of the
school buildings. Violence, as
saults, disrespect Of teachers
are acts Of an undesirable ele-
ment Of students. An atmos-
phere Of "permissiveness" has
discouraged the personnel OF
many schools and caused a
city-wide lessening of discip-
line standards. Fear RACES
through many school buildings
which have become tramping
grounds for outside influences,
including thugs, hoodlums, and
persons Of the lowest character
The school administration has
difficulty in coping with this
situation. The morale of many
teachers has suffered and the
percentage of designations and
transfers has increased. Never
theless, school officials fail TO
cooperate with police and re-
port violations of the law nor do
they maintain a city-wide re-
porting system Of incidents of
misconduct. Conduct at ath-
letic games-including the re-
cent stadium contests symp-
tomato Of the school conditions
the committee discovered as IL
probed into the causes OF one
OF the city's worst racial flare
ups in many years. Alarming
we're the reports that many
public school children and Of
ficials decided not 10 attend
the game because OF the fear OF
violence. Staggering was the
testimony Of various individ-
uals and police as TO the stock
piling Of weaponry-umbrellas
with sharp points, broken bot
ties, rocks, knives. and chains
which are used In public schools
and In some instances we're dis
played at the stadium. There
was wide belief that the sta
dium violence was preplanned
and organized In some quarters
but the committee found no
basis for this The committee
did find that many students
and teachers considered East
ern supporters poor losers"
and many Of Its adherents be-
Ing persons OF undesirable
qualities. That such a disci-
plinary problem would reach
such proportion In our school
system should be a matter OF
great concern TO all citizens.
Even more so. the situation
should shock all leadership
Evening star., 1963-01-09

FOLLOWING are excerpts from
Chairman MacCdrthy'S letter
accompanying a citizens COM
mittee report on the Thanks
giving Day rtottng at d. C.
Stadium.
To consider the Thanksgiving
Day disorders as beginning and
ending with the referees whis-
ties would be to ignore the
pleading of the injured and to
minimize the fundamental fac
tor that behavior at one sports
contest-in this instance a
football game-follows the pat
tern Of conduct at other similar
events and in the daily sur
roundings of the schools.
Thus the tragic happenings
at D. c. Stadium may beget
good and lasting results If they
awaken the public mind and
shock responsible persons into
assessing the discipline Of stu
dents in our public schools.
This serious theme-the urgent
need for both group and self
discipline-runs throughout the
report. The brutal display Of
irresponsibility and lack of
self discipline must be exam
ined in the context of normal
living among average law
abiding citizens. Not a single
teacher to whom I have spoken
in the past few weeks was sur
prised that the outbreak took
place. Uniformly came the re-
sponse, why should we be-?
We live with this brand of con-
duct every day in the schools. !"
Your written invitation, Mr.
Superintendent, to all teachers
to speak with me directly, but
tressed by a meeting of prin-
cipals in your office, brought
little response. This is attribu-
table to two reasons:
A. Lack of follow-through by
many PRINCIPALS. and
B. Fear on the part of the
teachers lest trankness would
jeopardize their positions.
Evening star., 1963-01-09

that follows the prodding of
the heart rather than the
leadership of the head. We do
a grave disservice to boys and
girls of both races when we
direct them to integrate and
thrust them into indiscrimi-
nate mingling without the
thorough preparation which is
a mandate for success in any
undertaking. The unique diff
culties which many teachers
face today and which too often
rock their morale in teaching
basic students and in control
ling classroom discipline, il
lustrate the need for prior
training and preparation es-
sential to achieve good results.
Evening star., 1963-01-09

pals opposing the game as con-
trary to the best educational
standards, they distributed and
sold tickets in any desired
Iamounts to all takers, regard
less Of their reputation. The
low-cost admission and the
Iindiscreet ticket sales attracted
the most undesirable elements
and made it possible for an
unruly element to destroy all
evidence of a character-build-
ing program. There is much
doubt, however, in the minds
of some committee members
how much character building
there is in the school athletic
program. At the present time,
the public school athletic pro-
gram does not enforce stand
ards Of eligibility ironclad
enough to prevent undesirables
from participating in the sports
program. This probably is due
to the overer" lis of inter-
scholastic a cs to the
detriment of developing a
strong and widespread intra-
mural sports programing,
2. Inadequate planning. With
thousands of students, many
without parents or adults, teen
ayers and a hanging-on follow
ing of numerous drop-outs, de-
linquents and gang members
on hand to watch a game which
easily could excite a basic emo
ton. there were these made
quacies:
a. Complete confusion in the
stands. There was no usher
system, except where least
needed within the very limited
reserve seat section where dig
nitaries sat, or a pattern of
each school delegation sitting
together under the supervision
Of teacher (as called for in
the official school regulation
on athletic events.
b. DISCRIMINATION in ar
rangement. At the time of
crisis, no one occupied a posi-
ton of authority to put into
operation a fast moving pre-
vention plan.
C. Lack Of goodwill theme.
For a predominantly Negro
gathering, the sponsors and
school officials showed little
concern for developing a
wholesome racial climate. AS
police report, the matter of a
predominantly white team VS..
a predominantly Negro team
was discussed in prior meet
ingS. But there was no sign
of a constructive step in that
direction. There was no plan
to invite as a sponsoring group
the Pigskin Club, a predomi-
nantly Negro sports organiza-
ton of some 900 professional
men interested lin character
building in the Nations Capt.
tai. There was no attempt to
invite headline Negro sports
stars or performers. Utilization
of Negroes in preparation for
the game possibly could have
produced more constructive re-
suits than using them after the
game to find out what went
wrong.
d. Element of racism. There
was evidence of racial prejudice
among attackers during the
stadium riot. Remarks, pro-
family, and utterances heard
by some spectators carried the
bitterness of racial hatred. De-
spite the several references, the
committee found no link with
the uprising to the Black Mus
lin movement. In a statement
issued shortly after the riot,
leaders who represent the great
majority of Negroes condemned
the "unsportsmanship conduct
and rowdyism," contending that
it can neither be excused or
Evening star., 1963-01-09

time. the st. Johns coach re-
strained his team members
from crossing the field and
becoming engaged in the dis
order.
When order was restored,
Harris, restrained by his own
teammates. was strapped to a
stretcher and carried from the
field. There was no announce
ment concerning his condition
nor an explanation via the
microphone Of the activity on
the field.
Evening star., 1963-01-09
Drinking in open

Enforcement, During the
game, many spectators COM
planned of open drinking. gam2
bling, scalping of tickets and
bootleg sale of liquor in rest
rooms. All of these were illegal
There were few arrests for
these offenSes. One police of
ficer said most of the offenders
were escorted from the sta
dium. This allowed the buildup
on the outside, nucleus of q
discontented grouping.
In high school games in other
years and only a few weeks
before the Thanksgiving Day
contest, student crowds rushed
onto the playing field. The
procedure has become routine.
At the Thanksgiving game, the
onruSh onto the field provoked
disorders. A police officer said.
his men had no orders TO stop
the crowd after the game as
they did when fighting broke
out during the game. In the
police report, it is mentioned
that the crowds were too big
to halt. The committee was
left without a clear picture.
Certainly, there is a need for
enforcement of policy bar
ring on-field rushes after d
game, even with penalties.
Another confusing situation
developed when it was brought
out that the large number Of
police who circled the field al
the end of the game we're in
active while fighting broke
outside of the stadium. Be-
cause of the lack of mobile
equipment, there was no COM
munication between the fun
police stating.
Also, in his report, Deputy
Chief Of Police Wallrodt re-
ported that During the en-
tire game l kept a close sur
veillance on the entire crowd
and did not observe any row
ing group or gang which l felt
was agitating trouble" Later,
he wrote. Neither did / per-
sonally observe any person with
any instrument which could be
classified as a weapon" This
was not in keeping with reports
the committee received from
spectators but the police officer
would not discuss the matter.
Officers Of the Juvenile Di-
vision Of the Police Depart
ment reported that there exists
a strained relationship with
school officials growing out of
some principals failing 10 re-
port juvenile crimes. There are
few meetings or conferences
between the top officials to dis
cuss the matter. Police officers
OF the Juvenile division who
appeared before the commit
tee deplored the situation and
are anxious to help clean II up.
but they claim they cannot get
the fun cooperation Of school
No city or community can
peacefully exist without law
and order, and respect for law
and order The citizens OF the
Capital have a re-
'ponsibility TO develop a work.
Ing relationship among all de-
partments and agencies and
certainly the Police Depart
ment will be a key agent in
any all-out effort 10 end law
.essneSs and violence. The De-
oartment deserves the help.
support and cooperation OF
very citizen.