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Riots bring out the worst in humans. The word itself is a response to the fear and ignorance by people who choose to repress something that is uncontrollable, and controversial in the human context. Unfortunately, most—if not all—riots result in bloodshed, disaster, and widespread chaos. While most view riots as wholly destructive, others would argue that riots are capable of bringing unprecedented change to a society desperate to escape an oppressive situation or a suffocating regime. And, oftentimes, riots are acts of senseless violence and unneccesary tragedy. From Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, and London, here are the most horrifying modern riots that have happened in the world in the past fifty years.
Kent State Riots
Country: United States
City: Kent
Date: May 1970
Number of people involved: 2,000+
Also known as the May 4 Massacre, the Kent State riots occurred after Nixon announced that the Cambodian Invasion had already been launched by the U.S. military. The next day on May 1, nearly 500 students at Kent State University rallied in protest in opposition to the Vietnam War. Although the crowd was dispersed, the protesters promised to continue their riots on Monday, May 4. When the day came, nearly 2,000 students congregated at the Commons area of Kent State. The police attempted to disperse the crowd, but failed attempts caused them to open fire onto the crowd of unarmed students, resulting in the death of four students: two who participated in the riot and two who were just walking to class.
Kingston Riots
Country: Jamaica
City: Kingston
Date: May-June 2010
Number of people involved: 2,000+
In 2010, the United States requested the extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a major drug lord who resided in Jamaica. The Kingston riots were caused by the disputes between the Shower Posse drug cartel led by Coke and Jamaica's military and police forces. On May 23, following the announcement of Coke's extradition, Coke began to barricade his place of residency in the Tivoli Gardens community to prepare for the inevitable onslaught of security forces. On May 24, police forces barged into Tivoli Gardens, which was armed with electrified barbwire, spiked manholes, hidden explosives, and a huge mob of Coke's supporters. Even though Coke was eventually arrested, the aftermath resulted in the death of over 100 people, the arrest of over 700, and the discovery of over 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
Naroda Patiya Riot
Country: India
City: Ahmedabad
Date: February 2002
Number of people involved: 5,000+
After the Gujarat riots occurred, false rumors spread that the Muslim perpetrators had kidnapped three Hindu girls during the train incident. In retaliation, many Muslims were attacked and killed in various cities including Ahmedabad. On February 27, Hindu mobs began to throw stones at Muslims, and even burnt a Muslim housing complex, which later culminated into a brutal riot in a small suburb of Ahmedabad, Naroda Patiya. A Hindu organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, declared a state-wide strike in response to the Godhra train burning accident starting February 28, On the first day, a mob of more than 5,000 attacked and attempted to destroy an entire Muslim community of the small suburb. Besides the common riot tactics like looting, arson, and hacking, the gruesome riot also involved sexual assaults and public gang rapes. At the end of it all, nearly 100 people were murdered, all Muslims, which including many women and children.
Jos Riots
Country: Nigeria
City: Jos
Date: Throughout 2010
Number of people involved: 10,000+
In 2010, Jos divided Nigeria between the predominantly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south, which often turned into religious and economical disputes between the two. While sources have disagreed on the causes of the riots, many people have believed it was catalyzed after Muslim youth set a Catholic church, during congregation, on fire, or was caused by an argument over the rebuilding of a Muslim home in a Christian neighborhood. However, the riots reached its peak on March 7, when Muslim Hausa-Fulani herders stormed into Christian villages near Jos and ransacked and burned the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, as the villagers fled their homes, they were only met with a crowd of people with machetes. The death toll exceeded more than 500, many of which included women and children.
Port Said Stadium Riot
Country: Egypt
City: Port Said
Date: February 2012
Number of people involved: 1,000+
The Port Said riots are a fatalistic example of why you shouldn't mess with some die-hard sports fans. On February 1, 2012, in what seemed to be a peaceful Egyptian premier league football match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly clubs, the 3-1 victory by Al-Masry catalyzed a full-on riot where Al-Masry fans brutally attacked Al-Ahly fans. Following the victory, Al-Masry fans stormed onto the field armed with knives, clubs, swords, and stones, resulting in fatal melee of 79 deaths caused by stabbing, brain hemorrhages, or concussions.
South Kyrgyzstan Riots
Country: Kyrgyzstan
City: Various Provinces
Date: Througout 2010
Number of people involved: 20,000+
During the elimination of the Soviet Union in the 1930's, two ethnic groups occupied Kyrgyzstan: the Kyrgyz and the Uzbek. Tension emerged when Uzbeks became more active in the Kyrgyzstani economy in 1990, which led Uzbek leader Qodirjon Botirov to parlay the economical autonomy into political clout. This power created a larger gap between the minority upper class Uzbeks and the majority lower-class Kyrgyzs, leaving room for more tension and disputes. In 2010, a dispute between young Kyrgyz and Uzbeks occurred at a casino in Osh, which later turned into an outbreak of violence. Both groups fled to other areas of Kyrgyzstan like Osh and Jalal-Abad to join their respective local groups to attack one another in a brutal fashion. Armed with guns, machetes, and knives, the two groups fought for three days in June resulting in murder, torture, looting, and arson. The death toll was reported to be more than 2,000 and nearly 400,000 refugees were displaced.
Hong Kong Riots
Country: Asia
City: Hong Kong
Date: May-December 1967
Number of people involved: 50,000+
What began as a minor labor dispute soon culminated into a large-scale riot between communist members and its sympathizers and British rule. During 1967, Hong Kong was greatly influenced by China's communist movement and pro-Communists began to call for massive strikes and organized demonstrations against British rule. The labor strikes reached its peak on July 8, when hundreds of armed militia from China fired at the Hong Kong Police killing five police officers. As a result, nearly any communist leader was arrested and any pro-communist establishments such as schools and newspaper offices were closed down. The most horrific part was the communist's retaliation as they resorted to terrorist tactics, disguising bombs and placing them throughout the city. Even in one incident a bomb disguised as a gift, which was placed outside of their residence, and killed a young girl and her brother. The riots died later that year but resulted in 51 deaths, 800 injuries, and over 5,000 arrests, and millions of dollars in property damage.
Detroit Riots
Country: United States
City: Detroit
Date: July 1967
Number of people involved: 10,000+
Also known as the 12th Street Riot, the 1967 Detroit Riot was caused by a police raid of an afterhours and unlicensed bar called Blind Pig. While it began as a violent public disturbance, the riot culminated as one of the most deadly riots in U.S. history, lasting five days. The riot even surpassed the damage done in the New York City Draft Riots in the Civil War and the L.A. Riots in 1992. At first the riot was concentrated at the Blind Pig, but it soon spread into adjacent stores where mass amounts of looting occurred throughout the neighborhood. Even though violence escalated and more than 1,000 arrests were made, it wasn't until third day when the National Guard were deployed to quell the riot. While the riot even catalyzed other violence in Ohio, in Detroit alone there was 43 deaths and more than 7,200 arrests.
Egyptian Bread Riots
Country: Egypt
City: Various Cities
Date: January 1977
Number of people involved: 20,000+
Affecting major cities throughout Egypt, the Egyptian "Bread Riots" was the uprising of thousands of lower-class people due to their frustrations with their current president's (Anway Sadat) policies to relieve the country's debt. In an effort to do so, Sadat sought loans from the World Bank, ending the subsidies for foods like flour, rice, and cooking oil, which increased the price of foods by nearly 50%. In the beginning of the riots, people would attack anything that represented the prosperity of the government or upper-middle-class or chant slogans denouncing the policies. While the riots soon ended after the abrupt cancellation of the policies, the riots resulted in 79 fatalities, 556 injuries, and over 1,000 arrests.
Chicago Riots
Country: United States
City: Chicago
Date: April 1968
Number of people involved: 4,000+
After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., riots ensued throughout major cities across the United States, including Baltimore, Washington, and Chicago. On April 4, African Americans stormed out onto the streets of the ghettos of Chicago. What was once a disturbance on the West side turned into a violent riot that expanded on to a 28-block-stretch of West Madison Street and the South side. The rioters ran into the streets, broke windows, looted stores, and set buildings and stores on fire. To quell the violence, the National Guard was deployed and Mayor Richard J. Daley imposed a curfew on those under the age of 21 and halted the sale of guns and ammunition. The West side experience most of the damage done, which included the destruction of businesses, and 50 million worth in damages. The Chicago Riots were some of the worst riots done in the U.S., which resulted in 11 fatalities, 48 injuries, and over 2,000 arrests.
First Intifada
Country: Israel
City: West Bank/ Gaza Strip
Date: December 1987
Number of people involved: 10,000+
It's undeniable that the Palestinians and Israelis have had a bad history. During the First Intifada, the Palestinians were outraged that Israelis were occupying Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Palestinians accused the Israelis for the mistreatment and execution of fellow Palestinians. As a result, Palestinians gathered at the Jabalia refugee camp, which then lead to various other uprisings in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. While the Palestinians practiced non-violent acts like resistance, strikes, the frustrations soon escalated turning into a violent riot. During the riots, plenty of Palestinian leaders were killed, including Abu Jihad. By the end of it all, 2,326 people were dead, and many more injured.
Romanian Revolution
Country: Romania
City: Various Cities
Date: December 1989
Number of people involved: 1,000+
Due to increased rations, which increased malnutrition, a majority of citizens grew dissatisfied with the Hungarian government and its leader Ceausescu. It was no surprise that the first real protest began on December 16, 1989 when Romanian officials were attempting to get rid of Laszlo Tokes, who spoke out against the government, which eventually cost his job as a pastor. Though many citizens stood up for him, crowds gathered around Tokes' home, and soon after, the police force was called in. While the ruling was overturned to evict Tokes and the riots that day were dispersed, the rioters broke into the District Committee building and threw away documents or symbols of Communist power. As the riot grew worse, the police force was called in again, but was proved futile. Tanks and armored personnel carriers were called in for reinforcement, but the riots continued each day with the largest on December 21, when nearly 100,000 people came together.
New Mexico Penitentiary Riot
Country: United States
City: Santa Fe
Date: February 1980
Number of people involved: 500+
The New Mexico Penitentiary riot was one of the most violent prison riots America. On February 2nd, 1980, while the prison was drastically understaffed and heavily overcrowded, the prisoners began taking guards, as hostages and rioting broke loose. By the morning of February 3, many of guards were already held captive and often raped. Mayhem ensued as gangs fought rival gangs, dangerous criminals escaped solitary confinement, and prisoners were pulled from their cells to be beaten, killed, burned, or dismembered. It got so bad that many of the inmates began to flee to tents the National Guard set up in a nearby baseball field. Over all, there were 33 confirmed deaths and 200 injuries.
French Riots
Country: France
City: Paris
Date: October 2005
Number of people involved: 3,000+
On October 2005, police were called to investigate a possible break in, which resulted in them questioning and detain youth. Whether the youth were falsely accused, the incident led to a series of riots and violent demonstrations. While the reasoning may not seem logical, the pre-existing conditions of high employment and police brutality, gave the people the perfect opportunity to retaliate. People engaged in looting, and arson, which resulted in the destruction of many buildings and stores amounting in nearly 200 million dollars in property damage. In addition, hundreds were injured and one lay dead before order was restored.
Belfast Ritos
Country: Ireland
City: Belfast
Date: Throughout 1981
Number of people involved: 1,000+
While this isn't necessarily considered a riot, the hunger strike in Belfast during 1981 might as well be considered a riot. Irish prisoners accused the prison guards of unreasonably violent treatment and tried to carry out a "dirty protest", covering their walls in their own excrement. As expected, they did not get the results they had hoped for except a really rancid prison cellar. Instead, the inmates decided to try a hunger strike. The hunger strike continued for 53 days, resulting in the death of ten people. This hunger strike gained national support amongst many citizens as they sought justice through the streets.
Sao Paulo Riot
Country: Brazil
City: Sao Paulo
Date: October 1992
Number of people involved: 8,000+
Carandiru, the Sao Paulo House of Detentions, was built in the 1950s, originally designed to house up to 3,500 inmates. At the time of the riot, it held more than 8,000, largely over-exceeding capacity. There had been many riots before, but on this occasion the guards seemed either especially unable or unwilling to negotiate with the prisoners. After the start of a fight, which had killed nine from stab wounds, the military police were dispatched and recklessly restored order by killing 102 inmates with automatic rifles. In the case of the Carandiru Massacre, the tables of the riot turned–the rioters didn't cause even a tenth of the damage as the police.
Brixton Riot
Country: United Kingdom
City: London
Date: April 1981
Number of people involved: 5,000+
To provide some context, Brixton in 1981 was an impoverished area that was plagued with social and economic problems. Immensely affected by the recession of 1981, the community suffered low income, poor housing, and rising unemployment. Public frustration came at a forefront on the evening of April 10, 1981 when police arrived at the scene of a stabbing of Michael Bailey. As the police were not seeking the appropriate medical attention, the citizens began to take matters into their own hands and began to struggle with the police to take the boy to a hospital. Following the incident, rumors spread that the police didn't offer protection or aid to the youth in the Brixton area. Because of the incident, police increased their numbers patrolling the street known as Railton Road. On the very next day, dubbed "Bloody Saturday", angry youths, black and white, began to retaliate and pelted police cars with bricks. The result? There were over 280 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public. In addition, hundreds of vehicles were burned including a number of police cars.
Bombay Riots
Country: India
City: Bombay
Date: December 1992
Number of people involved: 5,000+
In December and January 1992, riots occurred in Bombay, India as a result of the tension between Hindus and Muslims after the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6. The riots occurred in two phases: the first phase involved the Muslim backlash against the Hindus as a result of the demolition, and the second was a Hindu backlash against the Muslims over the killings of Hindu workers by Muslim radicals. Like most riots, arson, theft, and looting were prevalent throughout Bombay. But what is striking and horrific is the amount of causalities that calculated to nearly 1,000.
Bloody Sunday
Country: Northern Ireland
City: Derry
Date: January 1972
Number of people involved: 5,000+
Familiar with the U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday?" Well the song was inspired by the riots that occurred during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights march in 1972 known as "Bloody Sunday." During the march, the protesters were fighting against the discrimination against the Catholic minority in rights such as voting and public housing. While the association engaged in a non-violent campaign, the marchers were met with violence from soldiers of the British army. The reckless soldiers took aim at 26 unarmed civil rights protesters, which resulted in the death of 16 males and two injured. The riots were met with a great artistic reaction from artists like U2, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney.
London Riots
Country: United Kingdom
City: London
Date: August 2011
Number of people involved: 10,000+
Think the Trayvon and Rodney King incidents are only central to the United States? Think again. Following the death of Mark Duggan, a black male shot dead by police on August 4, 2011, protesters became outraged and decided to take matters into their own hands. Between August 6 and August 10, thousands of people took to the streets of London boroughs to protest the police's brutal actions on Duggan. The riots sprawled into other areas with some of the most violent disturbances occurring in Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester. Due to widespread looting and arson, the aftermath of the four-day riot included the death of five people and 16 injured. There was an estimated 200 million worth of property damage and activity around the areas was greatly compromised.
Argentina Riots
Country: Argentina
City: Buenos Aires
Date: December 2001
Number of people involved: 5,000+
In 2001, following two years of recession, the citizens of Argentina became infuriated with the government under President Fernando de la Rua and his inability to contain the economic crisis that plagued the middle-class society. And with the resignation of de la Rua's Economy minister and social unrest growing amongst the unemployed "piqueteros," de la Rua was faced with crises that severely hurt his presidency approval. In December of 2001, in frustration of de La Rua's policies, rioting against his presidency occurred as they decided that they had had enough. The riots lasted for two days on December 19 and 20, which resulted in widespread looting and the death of 26 people.
L.A. Riots
Country: United States
City: Los Angeles
Date: April 1992
Number of people involved: 10,000+
On 29 April 1992, a jury acquitted two white police officers of charges from the videotaped beating of African American Rodney King. Outraged with the verdict, thousands of citizens in the Los Angeles area rioted for a period of six days. While the riots started in the South Los Angeles, the riots soon spread out into other surrounding areas. After two days of the incidents, the riots reached its peak with mass amounts of looting, murder, arson and assault. While the violence was done in retaliation to race struggles, the riots included violence against African Americans and Hispanics concentrated in the Los Angeles area. To restore order, the National Guard and Marines were dispatched to patrol areas and enforce a dusk-to-dawn curfew. The damages of the police brutality and murders included 53 deaths and as many as 2,000 people injured. With the mass amount of damages done to buildings, the amount of losses have varied between about $800 million and $1 billion. Approximately 3,600 fires were lit, which destroyed 1,100 buildings, many of which included family-owned businesses and stores. The riots have been considered to be the worst U.S. riots since the riots in the 1960's.
Gujarat Riots
Country: India
City: Gujarat
Date: February 2002
Number of people involved: 5,000+
Following a train attack by Muslims- believed to be the cause of the Gujarat riots- a period of violence in retaliation of the minority Muslim population lasted for three days. In the train attack, nearly 58 Hindu pilgrims including women and children were killed, but this was only a small omen to what was to come. The attack immediately prompted a large scale of communal riots, which resulted in the death of 790 Muslims, 254 Hindus, and nearly 2,500 injured persons. The infrastructural damage was immense including the destruction of numerous places of worship and Muslim-owned businesses. Not only that, but the riots also prompted an immediate evacuation of many Hindues and Muslims.
Nairobi Riots
Country: Kenya
City: Nairobi
Date: December 2007
Number of people involved: 100,000+
In December 2007, columns of black smoke masked the air of Nairobi, as supporters of Raila Odinga, the leading presidential challenger of the looming elections in 2008, rampaged into the streets to protest what they thought was a plot by the government to steal the vote for the reelection of Mwal Kibaki. The political riots soon turned bloody as buildings were burned and hundreds were killed. While the riots originated in Nairobi, they soon sprawled into the surrounding areas along the coast as the club-armed officers tried to restore peace amongst the crowd, but it was too late. By the end of January, the death toll greatly exceeded 500, and nearly half a million were displaced or fled from their homes. One of the grimmest parts of the riots included the burning of a church which provided shelter for 200 people.