Wilmington massacre — the full case file

Following a Democratic Executive Committee meeting in Raleigh, a statewide call for white unity was issued, calling on whites to unite to "re-establish Anglo-Saxon rule" in North Carolina. On November 10, 1898, white supremacist Democrats led an armed mob of roughly 2,000 men in Wilmington, North Carolina, overthrowing the city's legitimately elected biracial Fusionist government, killing at least 14 Black residents (estimates run far higher), and destroying Black-owned businesses including the city's only Black daily newspaper. On August 18, 1898, Alexander Manly published an editorial in the Wilmington Daily Record responding to a pro-lynching speech by Rebecca Latimer Felton, provoking outrage among white residents. On October 21, 1898, Democrats staged a large political rally in Fayetteville; the Red Shirts made their North Carolina debut. On October 25, 1898, Alfred Moore Waddell delivered a speech at Thalian Hall in Wilmington declaring white supremacy the sole issue for white voters. On October 28, 1898, a "White Supremacy Convention" was held in Goldsboro, drawing a crowd of about 8,000. On November 1, 1898, Red Shirt leader Mike Dowling led a parade of 1,000 mounted men through Black neighborhoods of Wilmington. On November 2, 1898, a "White Man's Rally" marched through Wilmington, firing into Black homes and a Black school on Campbell Square. On November 8, 1898, North Carolina held its general election amid widespread intimidation of Black and Fusionist voters. On November 10, 1898, an armed white mob of roughly 2,000 men overthrew Wilmington's elected Fusionist government, killed at least 14 Black residents, and destroyed Black-owned businesses including the Daily Record newspaper offices. The case is recorded as solved. This case file is kept in memory of Alexander Manly. The full sourced case file, with every fact cited, is at casepin dot org.

Transcript from the video’s narration track. For every source, open the case file.