Ax Handle Saturday, also known as the Jacksonville riot of 1960, was a racially motivated attack that took place in Hemming Park (now known as James Weldon Johnson Park or JWJ Park)[1] in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 27, 1960. A group of white men attacked African Americans who were engaging in sit-in protests opposing racial segregation. The attack took its name from the ax handles used by the attackers.
Because of its high visibility and patronage, Hemming Park and surrounding stores were the site of numerous civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s. Black sit-ins began on August 13, 1960, when students asked to be served at the segregated lunch counter at Woolworths, Morrison's Cafeteria, and other eateries. They were denied service and kicked, spit at and addressed with racial slurs.
Incident
On August 27, 1960, a group of 200 white men who were Ku Klux Klan members gathered in Hemming Park armed with baseball bats and ax handles.[2] They attacked the protesters conducting sit-ins. The violence spread, and the white mob started attacking all African Americans in sight. Rumors were rampant on both sides that the unrest was spreading around the county (in reality, the violence stayed in relatively the same location, and did not spill over into the mostly white, upper-class Cedar Hills neighborhood, for example). A black street gang called the "Boomerangs" came to protect the demonstrators.[3] Although police had not intervened when the protesters were attacked, they became involved, arresting members of the Boomerangs and other black residents who attempted to stop the beatings.[4][5][6]
Nat Glover, who later worked in Jacksonville law enforcement for 37 years, including eight years as sheriff of Jacksonville, recalled stumbling into the riot. Glover said he ran to the police, expecting them to arrest the thugs, but was told to leave town or risk being killed.[7]
Several whites had joined the black protesters on that day. Richard Charles Parker, a 25-year-old student attending Florida State University, was among them. White protesters were the object of particular dislike by racists, so when the fracas began, Parker was hustled out of the area for his own protection. The police had been watching him and arrested him as an instigator, charging him with vagrancy, disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. After Parker stated that he was proud to be a member of the NAACP, Judge John Santora sentenced him to 90 days in jail.[8]
^The Times-Union. . jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
^The Times-Union. . jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
^Gil Wilson. "St. Augustine Civil Rights 1960 -1965". drbronsontours.com.
^Alliniece T. Andino. . jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
^Pemberton, John: [1] 2017-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Florida Times-Union, February 22, 1998, "Focus on: Nat Glover"
^Weathersbee, Tonyaa: [2] Florida Times-Union, February 4, 2008, "The story of a white man who joined the '60s sit-ins"
^"Finding a New Purpose for the Snyder Memorial Church Building". The Coastal. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
^Soergel, Matt. "WJCT TV-7 offers powerful documentary on Ax Handle Saturday". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
Further reading
Bartley, Abel A. (Summer 1999). "The 1960 and 1964 Jacksonville Riots: How Struggle Led to Progress". Florida Historical Quarterly. 78 (1): 46–73.
Hurst, Rodney L. (2008). It was Never about a Hot Dog and a Coke!: A Personal Account of the 1960 Sit-in Demonstrations in Jacksonville, Florida and Ax Handle Saturday. WingSpan Press. ISBN9781595941954.
External links
Ax Handle Saturday, 1960: A day of defiance in black and white (newspaper article)
"Ax Handle Saturday": A dark day in Jacksonville history occurred 56 years ago
January 26, 2023
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Ax Handle Saturday also known as the Jacksonville riot of 1960 was a racially motivated attack that took place in Hemming Park now known as James Weldon Johnson Park or JWJ Park 1 in Jacksonville Florida on August 27 1960 A group of white men attacked African Americans who were engaging in sit in protests opposing racial segregation The attack took its name from the ax handles used by the attackers Ax Handle SaturdayPart of the Civil Rights MovementDateAugust 27 1960LocationHemming ParkJacksonville FloridaParties to the civil conflictwhite rioters black rioters Contents 1 Background 2 Incident 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBackground EditBecause of its high visibility and patronage Hemming Park and surrounding stores were the site of numerous civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s Black sit ins began on August 13 1960 when students asked to be served at the segregated lunch counter at Woolworths Morrison s Cafeteria and other eateries They were denied service and kicked spit at and addressed with racial slurs Incident EditOn August 27 1960 a group of 200 white men who were Ku Klux Klan members gathered in Hemming Park armed with baseball bats and ax handles 2 They attacked the protesters conducting sit ins The violence spread and the white mob started attacking all African Americans in sight Rumors were rampant on both sides that the unrest was spreading around the county in reality the violence stayed in relatively the same location and did not spill over into the mostly white upper class Cedar Hills neighborhood for example A black street gang called the Boomerangs came to protect the demonstrators 3 Although police had not intervened when the protesters were attacked they became involved arresting members of the Boomerangs and other black residents who attempted to stop the beatings 4 5 6 Nat Glover who later worked in Jacksonville law enforcement for 37 years including eight years as sheriff of Jacksonville recalled stumbling into the riot Glover said he ran to the police expecting them to arrest the thugs but was told to leave town or risk being killed 7 Several whites had joined the black protesters on that day Richard Charles Parker a 25 year old student attending Florida State University was among them White protesters were the object of particular dislike by racists so when the fracas began Parker was hustled out of the area for his own protection The police had been watching him and arrested him as an instigator charging him with vagrancy disorderly conduct and inciting a riot After Parker stated that he was proud to be a member of the NAACP Judge John Santora sentenced him to 90 days in jail 8 Aftermath EditSnyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church hosted community discussions and negotiations following the incident 9 Lunch counters in Jacksonville were desegregated in 1961 10 See also EditList of incidents of civil unrest in the United StatesReferences Edit Corley Peel Jenese Harris August 11 2020 Council OKs renaming Hemming Park after James Weldon Johnson News4Jax com Retrieved 2020 08 12 Ax Handle Saturday Jacksonville s Ugliest Hour The Coastal 2019 08 27 Retrieved 2021 08 23 The Times Union Discrimination in all its forms must be axed Jacksonville com jacksonville com Archived from the original on 2008 11 22 Retrieved 2009 10 08 The Times Union Civil rights Jacksonville com jacksonville com Archived from the original on 2008 12 01 Retrieved 2009 10 08 Gil Wilson St Augustine Civil Rights 1960 1965 drbronsontours com Alliniece T Andino 40 years ago this weekend Jacksonville gave itself a national reputation for violence Jacksonville com jacksonville com Archived from the original on 2012 06 06 Retrieved 2009 10 08 Pemberton John 1 Archived 2017 07 01 at the Wayback Machine Florida Times Union February 22 1998 Focus on Nat Glover Weathersbee Tonyaa 2 Florida Times Union February 4 2008 The story of a white man who joined the 60s sit ins Finding a New Purpose for the Snyder Memorial Church Building The Coastal 2019 06 20 Retrieved 2021 08 23 Soergel Matt WJCT TV 7 offers powerful documentary on Ax Handle Saturday The Florida Times Union Retrieved 2021 08 23 Further reading EditBartley Abel A Summer 1999 The 1960 and 1964 Jacksonville Riots How Struggle Led to Progress Florida Historical Quarterly 78 1 46 73 Hurst Rodney L 2008 It was Never about a Hot Dog and a Coke A Personal Account of the 1960 Sit in Demonstrations in Jacksonville Florida and Ax Handle Saturday WingSpan Press ISBN 9781595941954 External links EditAx Handle Saturday 1960 A day of defiance in black and white newspaper article Ax Handle Saturday A dark day in Jacksonville history occurred 56 years ago Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ax Handle Saturday amp oldid 1118530600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
