RACIAL RIOT IN AMERICA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28702, 27 September 1958, Page 13

RACIAL RIOT IN AMERICA

Students Attack Negroes (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) TEXARKANA (Arkansas), September 26. A high school football rally turned into a riot last night as 300 white students attacked negroes in the area. Some whites were also attacked by the students. Although the two police forces of Texarkana were needed in strength to quell the riot, only minor injuries were reported. Texarkana is partly in Texas and partly in Arkansas. Each year a rally is held by the students of the Texarkana (Texas) High School and the Texarkana (Arkansas) High School, on the eve of their annual football game. Texarkana (Arkansas) police succeeded in dispersing the students soon after the melee erupted. The crowd then retreated across the street to Texas and shouted curses and taunts at the officers.

The small Texarkana (Texas) Police Force then fought the students for about an hour, before breaking up the mob. Several teen-age boys were arrested.

The riot started when the teenagers, urged on by some white adults, turned their attention to negroes who were driving and walking in the area where the rally was being held. The windows of about 20 cars were smashed. Radio aerials and mirrors were ripped off. Most of the cars belonged to negroes. At one time, the students picked up a small European car with a frightened white driver inside and carried it bodily, wheels spinning, for several yards. The car sped away when the youths put it down. ♦