The race riot in Atlanta on September 6, 1966, was a significant event during the Civil Rights Movement. It occurred when racial tensions, exacerbated by economic inequality, police brutality, and segregation, erupted into violent protests. The incident began with a confrontation between African American youths and the police, which then escalated into widespread unrest. The rioting primarily took place in the Summerhill and Mechanicsville neighborhoods of Atlanta, with both property damage and several injuries reported.

This event was part of the broader wave of racial unrest that affected many American cities in the 1960s, as Black communities protested against systemic racism and sought greater civil rights. The Atlanta riot was notable because it occurred in a city that had prided itself on being a model of racial harmony and integration, largely due to the efforts of figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was from Atlanta.