New Orleans is one of the most traveled to cities in the US. It's rich history, music, and food are just some of the reasons people visit this beautiful city. A little known fact is that New Orleans has one of the earliest recorded massacres in America.
On July 30th, 1866, a protest began after the Louisiana stat legislature passed the black codes and refused to extend voting rights to black men. Around 130 black New Orleans residents marched toward the Mechanics Institute for a meeting. The mayor, Monroe, organized and led a mob of ex-Confederates, white supremacists, and members of the New Orleans Police force claiming their intent was to prevent any disturbance.
As the protesters were within a few blocks of Mechanics Institute, shots were fired by the mob but the group was still allowed to continue towards the meeting hall. Once they reached the Institute, the mob members attacked the protesters, while they were trying to rush inside the building for safety. With tempers rising, the mob surrounded the building and began shooting into the windows. They rushed into the building and fired into the crowd of protesters. They eventually ran out of ammunition, which gave the protesters the opportunity to beat them back out of the building.
The mob left the building to regroup and returned to break down the doors and firing at the mostly unarmed protesters. The protesters attempted to flee or surrender. Most of those that attempted to surrender were killed on the spot. Those that fled were chased and killed as they spread out over several blocks. Innocent bystanders who weren't even involved in the protest or mob were also killed. By the end of the massacre, at least 238 people were killed, of which 200 were Black American war veterans, and 46 people were wounded.