The Philadelphia race riot took place in the predominantly black neighborhoods of North Philadelphia from August 28 to August 30, 1964. African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... This article refers to the largest city of Pennsylvania. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... August 30 is the 242nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (243rd in leap years), with 123 days remaining. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Tensions between black residents of the city and police had been escalating for several months over several well-publicized allegations of police brutality.

The unrest began on the evening of August 28th after a black woman named Odessa Bradford got into an argument with two police officers (one white, one black). Bradford's car had stalled at 23rd Street and Columbia Avenue. After Bradford refused to comply with the two officers' orders to move the car, an argument ensued. The officers then tried to physically move Bradford from the car. She resisted and a large crowd assembled in the area. A man tried to come to Bradford's aid by attacking the police officers at the scene, but he and Bradford were arrested.

Rumors then spread throughout North Philadelphia that a pregnant black woman had been beaten to death by white police officers. Later that evening, and throughout the next two days, angry mobs looted and burned mostly white owned businesses in North Philadelphia. Outnumbered, the police response was to withdraw from the area rather than aggressively confront the rioters.

Although no one was killed, 341 people were injured, 774 people were arrested and 225 stores were damaged or destroyed in the three days of rioting.

Business activity in North Philadelphia declined even further after the riots, as many of the damaged or destroyed stores never re-opened for business. The riots also helped to facilitate the political rise to power of Frank Rizzo, who favored more punitave approaches to crime. Frank Rizzo (full name Frank Lazarro Rizzo, October 23, 1920- July 16, 1991) served two terms as mayor of Philadelphia, from January 1972 to January 1980. ...

The events of the Philadelphia riots of 1964 are depicted in the first season finale of the NBC television show American Dreams. American Dreams is an American television drama program broadcast on the NBC television network. ...