{"id":3457,"date":"2026-08-01T19:26:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/?page_id=3457"},"modified":"2026-08-01T19:34:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:34:08","slug":"paterson-riots-of-1964","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/index.php\/paterson-riots-of-1964\/","title":{"rendered":"Paterson Riots of 1964"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Paterson Riots<\/strong>, which occurred on August 11\u201313, 1964<\/strong>, was one of the most significant episodes of civil unrest in Paterson, New Jersey, during the turbulent civil rights era. Sparked by longstanding racial tensions, allegations of police misconduct, and social and economic inequality, the disturbances reflected challenges facing many American cities in the 1960s.<\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

By the early 1960s, Paterson was undergoing major economic and demographic changes. The city’s once-thriving silk and manufacturing industries had declined, resulting in rising unemployment and deteriorating neighborhoods. At the same time, Paterson’s African American population had grown significantly, as many families moved north during the Great Migration in search of better opportunities.<\/p>\n

Many Black residents faced:<\/p>\n