History of the Augusta Riots
The Civil Rights Movement was a tumultuous time in Augusta. Perhaps the best known conflict during this time was the 1970 Augusta riot, which occurred from May 11- May 13, 1970. The unrest was set in motion following the suspicious death of a 16 year old African American inmate, Charles Oatman, while in prison. What began as a day of demonstration devolved into a riot ing, looting, and fires in local businesses. African American community leaders met with the city council on May 11th to discuss the claims of police brutality, but protests had already started by the time the meeting was over, leading to rioting and looting.
The governor at the time ordered 1,200 Georgia National Guard troops to the city. By the following day, six young protestors had been shot and killed, and more that 300 people were arrested. In the aftermath, singer James Brown visited the city where he had grown up to meet with city officials and to try to calm the tensions between residents and city leadership.
This event had an important and lasting impact on the citizens of Augusta, many of whom documented this time period through oral histories, written memoirs, or by collecting newspaper clippings as the events unfolded. This research guide will provide an entry point into research on this event, by highlighting books and manuscript materials related to the 1970 Augusta Riots, held by Reese Library Special Collections.
Photograph of the riots, from the Augusta Chronicle, 1970.