United Front of Cairo

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The United Front of Cairo, Illinois was an organization founded in 1969-1970, in response to racist attacks against the black population in Cairo, Illinois. The United Front was founded and led by Reverend Charles Koen. On March 31, 1969, white vigilante groups ("White Hats"), in cooperation with the local police, shot into an all-black housing project for two and a half hours. Although it was not the first attack on the black population in Cairo, it led the impetus to begin an economic boycott against white owned businesses in downtown Cairo. The boycott lasted throughout the 1970s and contributed to the economic hardships that would face the city later, closing many businesses in Cairo. In addition, the organization sponsored rallies, building funds for a new shopping center, and provided support to the black community due to increased economic hardship because of the boycott and from lack of food.

From the guide to the United Front of Cairo, Illinois Photographs, circa 1970-1980, (Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Guide to the United Front of Cairo, Illinois Photographs, circa 1970-1980 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Library Newspapers, 1873-2014 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Records of the Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center, and undated, 1969-1975, 1981-1982 Harvard University Archives.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abernathy, Ralph, 1926-1990 person
associatedWith Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center corporateBody
associatedWith Koen, Charles person
associatedWith Simone, Nina, 1933-2003 person
associatedWith Tamiment Library. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cairo (Ill.) |x Race relations |v Pictorial works.
Subject
African Americans
Occupation
Activity

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