The Washington, D.C. Race Riot of July 1919 was one of the many racial disturbances that occurred during the summer of 1919, which became known as the “Red Summer.” These riots were a series of race-related violent outbreaks across the United States, fueled by racial tensions, competition for jobs, and the post-World War I environment.

In Washington, D.C., the violence erupted after an incident on July 19, when a white police officer arrested an African American man, sparking protests from the Black community. Tensions escalated over the next few days, and on July 24, riots broke out in the city. The violence resulted in the deaths of at least five African Americans and several white people, with many others injured. The National Guard had to be called in to restore order.

The riot highlighted the deep racial divisions in the city and reflected broader social and political unrest that characterized the Red Summer of 1919. This period saw numerous race riots in cities such as Chicago, Tulsa, and Elaine, as white supremacy and racial violence intensified, and Black communities, many of whom had recently migrated from the South, fought for better treatment, political representation, and civil rights.