It is believed that the massacre sprouted from a rivalry between two Chinese American companies called "Huignan" over the kidnapping of a young Chinese woman. Police discovered the Chinese men fighting and then the Chinese opened fire on the police, killing one civilian who assisted the officers, Robert Thompson. The word that the Chinese were killing "Caucasians" quickly spread. At this time, the Chinese were already not well-liked and were considered a threat to the economy.
A mob of 500 or 10 percent of the city's population formed that night and they began to attack the Coronel Building, where the Chinese men hid. 2 Chinese men who tried to run were shot and killed. Another man named Wong Tuck was captured by the mob and hung. The Chinese were forced to makeshift gallows at Tomlinson's corral and Goller's wagon shop, where the wagons were actually used to lynch people. The city marshal Francis off the area, recruited volunteer guards to "shoot any Chinese residents who tried to leave", and then fled the scene. By the end of the night, at least 18 Chinese people had been murdered. Most of the hangings occurred at Tomlinson's corral, including a successful doctor who begged for his life in BOTH English and Spanish, but was still shot in the mouth and had his finger chopped off because he had a ring? Some men were even hanged without their trousers. Additionally, almost every single Chinese occupied building on that block was ransacked and almost every resident was either attacked or robbed.
7 men were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced for 2 to 9 years in prison, but the conviction was eventually overturned based on "technicalities". Additionally, this anti-Chinese mentality eventually led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 188.
I was shocked that I didn't know about this and most Chinese Americans don't even know about this and this was the LARGEST LYNCHING IN US HISTORY! This massacre is often forgotten and not talked about, which really came as a shock to me. For example, even though this is the largest lynching in US history, the site where the lynchings occurred is just across the street from the newly built Federal Office Building and a hall of justice is right near the hanging site.
Has much really changed though? A lot of people are still killed today based on their race. Some people even still hear things like "they're taking our jobs". The justice system seems to almost malleable when it comes to people of color and that happens even today. However, it's not just the Asian Race, people are often discriminatory to a lot of different races. It's so sad that a lot of crimes and hate result from racial discrimination.
Some pictures from the lynching:
I find it really sad and shocking that this event is never discussed. Currently, with so much awareness on racial equality, it's surprising that this has never come up. It's an extremely accurate example of a hate crime. However, I think the fact that this is never brought up shows how normalized racial discrimination is in the U.S. now.
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