On April 10, 1866 the United States Congress overrode Andrew Johnson’s veto of the Civil Rights Act. The legislation established a racially neutral criteria for citizenship.
On April 16 the Black community in Norfolk, Va. held a celebration of the Federal recognition of their citizenship. Hundreds African Americans marched in a parade through the city, the Richmond Dispatch estimating the participants at “not more than one thousand.” With banners petitioning for the vote, the marchers were accompanied by veterans of the United States Colored Troops who carried firearms, likely for protection against possible attackers. The commander of the 12th United States Infantry believed that about 18 to 20 Blacks were armed. [Richmond Dispatch April 18, 1866; The Norfolk Riot: 16 April 1866 by John Hammond Moore The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 90, No. 2 (Apr., 1982), pp. 158 (10 pages)
Published by: Virginia Historical Society]
From: Riot at Norfolk army inquiry
Testimony of Major F.W. Stanhope
Maj. Stanhope testified that he had prepared his men for the possibility on trouble on April 16. He wanted his men ready to move at a moment’s notice if summoned by the nayor.(p. 3)
On April 16 he observed the parade. He had been warned that some whites intended to disrupt the parade.
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See? Now this is what I’m talkin’ bout! Fantastic work locating these primary evidences.
Keep up the good work.