On this day April 13, in 1873, as many as 150 freed slaves were murdered by an angry crowd in Colfax, La.
The attack has become a symbol of post-Civil War politics in the South and came as a direct result of the disputed 1872 Louisiana governor’s election.
The Colfax area contained an equal number of whites and newly enfranchised free black slaves. When the election results came in, the state leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties each claimed victory in Colfax.
Republicans, composed mostly of freed slaves, entrenched around the Colfax courthouse, out of fear that the Democrats might try to seize control.
After nearly a month of being under siege by white Democrats, the black militia surrendered. But the white militia attacked anyway, killing between 50 and 150.
