On this date in 1951, Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois called out the National Guard to restore order in Cicero, Illinois, following violent riots. A white mob of around 3,500 people had gathered in an attempt to prevent a Black family, the Murrays, from moving into an all-white neighborhood. The family had rented an apartment in the area, and their move sparked outrage among the white residents. The violence escalated to the point where the National Guard had to be deployed to protect the family and restore peace.

This event was one of the many instances of racial tension and violence that were common during the mid-20th century, as African Americans sought to challenge segregation and gain equal rights, especially in housing. It highlighted the deep resistance to integration in certain communities and the lengths to which people would go to preserve racial segregation.