The East St. Louis occured in 1917. 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ...

In 1917, the United States had a strong economy boosted by World War I — in response, many blacks were recruited to work at the Aluminum Ore Company and the American Steel Company. However, resentment on the part of whites planted fear of job security in the population, which eventually manifested itself in rumors of black men and white women fraternizing at a labor meeting on May 28. Immediately, 3000 people had rushed downtown, beating every black in sight — they destroyed buildings and beat people, but no one was killed. The National Guard was called in, which prevented further rioting, but rumors continued to circulate about an organized attack from the blacks. 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Combatants Allies: • Serbia, • Russia, • France, • Romania, • Belgium, • British Empire and Dominions, • United States, • Italy, • ...and others Central Powers: • Germany, • Austria-Hungary, • Ottoman Empire, • Bulgaria Casualties 5 million military, 3 million civilian (full list) 3 million military, 3 million civilian (full list) World War I, also known as the First World... A rumor (Commonwealth English: rumour) is a piece of purportedly true information that circulates without substantiating evidence. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard // Background The United States National Guard is a significant component of the United States armed forces military reserve. ...

On July 1, a black man shot his white attacker, which was retaliated with a drive-by shooting. When police came to investigate, the black man who had been attacked returned fire, thinking them to be the attackers from before. The next morning, thousands of white spectators who saw the bloodstained automobile marched to the black section of town and started rioting. After cutting the hoses of the fire department, the rioters burned entire sections of the city, shooting the inhabitants as they escaped the flames. Claiming that "Southern niggers deserve[d] a genuine lynching,"¹ they lynched several blacks. Guardsmen were called in, but several accounts reported that they joined in the rioting rather than stopping it. Everyone joined in including "ten or fifteen young girls about 18 years old, [who] chased a negro woman at the Relay Depot at about 5 o'clock. The girls were brandishing clubs and calling upon the men to kill the woman."² July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ...

References

1. Willlard A. Heaps. "Target of Prejudice: The Negro." In Riots, USA 1765-1970, 108-117. (New York: The Seabury Press, 1970), 114.
2. "RACE RIOTERS FIRE EAST ST. LOUIS AND SHOOT OR HANG MANY NEGROES; DEAD ESTIMATED AT FROM 20 TO 76." New York Times (3 July 1917).