Chinese Massacre of 1871

Tue Oct 24, 1871

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The Chinese Massacre of 1871 was a race riot that occurred on this day in Los Angeles, California when a mob of around 500 white and mestizo people entered Chinatown and attacked, robbed, and murdered Chinese residents.

The massacre took place on Calle de los Negros, also known as “Negro Alley”. The mob gathered after hearing that a policeman had been shot and a rancher killed by Chinese immigrants. Historian John Johnson described the ensuing violence as the “largest mass lynching in American history”.

An estimated 17 to 20 Chinese immigrants were hanged by the mob in the course of the riot, but most had already been shot to death. At least one was mutilated when someone cut off a finger to get his diamond ring.

Ten members of the mob were prosecuted, eight were convicted of manslaughter. The convictions were overturned on appeal due to various technicalities.