AP+2014+P3+Rabbit+Inn+Incident

__ Visual: __ __Explanation:__ The Rabbit Inn Incident is a historical event that was a result of Irish Catholics, African Americans, and the Tactical Police Force clashing together in South Boston, 1974. The White Catholics tried to stop the desegregation of Boston and would do acts against the African Americans, such as throwing rocks at buses that would pass by the Inn and start raging riots with discriminating signs. Whites would carry signs saying, “ Hitler’s Gestapo Out of South Boston” (Saba 1). The White community did not want African Americans mixing in their community, and they did their best to drive them out. The Tactical Police Force found out about these acts that were occurring and they immediately went into action to stop it. The White community retaliated towards the Tactical Police Force by throwing a brick at one of the police cars. This event did not stop any of the conflict and only irritated the tension more. Work Cited:
 * Aim -** Grace - //Rabbit Inn Incident//

Saba, Paul. "Boston Busing Struggle Sharpens." //Boston Busing Struggle Sharpens //. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.

"The Boston Busing Crisis." //The Boston Busing Crisis //. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014.

Visual:
 * Audience** - Jessica - //Rabbit Inn Incident//

Explanation:
The Rabbit Inn Incident was certainly not the first occurrence of racial hostilities in South Boston at the time. When school buses began to transport black children, it was opposed by the hundreds of the white people in the area, who decided they would stone the buses, which injured many of the black children. In turn, police were sent to protect these children, but “bystanders reported that in many cases, police actually encouraged rock throwing and allowed groups of assailants through their lines, while also using the opportunity to come down hard on some of the white teenagers and bystanders” (Saba). The audience of this corruption were certainly, but not only, the black children and parents who were being targeted by the white people in the area and the police, and the white teenagers who were encouraged and then punished. The secondary audience would be the latin residents of South Boston and the working class who were opposed to all the violence that occurred. This incident was caused by the rising anger of the Irish in South Boston about the desegregation happening and the governmental system in Boston at that point, which divided the different nationalities and the working class. This was definitely a weak exhibit by the mayor of Boston and the police force to put a stop to the harassment of the black and latin residents of South Boston. The black community had to deal with a good deal of harassment before this struggle for integration was finished.

Works Cited: Saba, Paul. "Boston Busing Struggle Sharpens." Boston Busing Struggle Sharpens. Revolution, Vol. 2, No. 10, November 1974., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. Taylor, Steven J.L. Desegregation in Boston and Buffalo: The Influence of Local Leaders. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 1998. Print.

__Explanation:__ The Rabbit Inn Incident furthered aggravation in South Boston during the process of desegregation in the community. On October 4, 1974 a brick was smashed through the windshield of a Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) vehicle outside the local barroom, the Rabbit Inn (O’Conner 219). The Tactical Patrol Force was, according the Michael Chesson: “an elite riot squad that wore special uniforms” (“The Athens of America”). One of this force’s most important duties was enforcing the new desegregation busing regulations. The next night, the TPF raided the Rabbit Inn, causing $20,000 worth of damage and sending ten patrons to the hospital (Chesson). This is culturally significant because it had a forceful impact on the worsening South Boston culture. It added to the violent outrage at the new desegregation laws coming into effect. What the incident demonstrated about the time culturally was the high tensions between the public and the Tactical Patrol Force in South Boston at that time. One, that the general public was so upset with the forced busing regulation being imposed by the TPF that they would act out and vandalize an officer’s car. And second, that the TPF would react in such an elevated manner as raiding the barroom that the vandalism took place outside of, in event causing that much damage. Revealing an unstable, conflicted and tense cultural community in South Boston at the time. __ Works Cited: __ Chesson, Michael. "The Athens of America." American History News Network. American College of History & Legal Studies, 16 April 2011. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. O'Conner, Thomas H. South Boston: My Home Town. Boston: Quinlan Press, 1988. Print. 6 Jan. 2014.
 * Cultural** - Andrea - //Rabbit Inn Incident//


 * Historical** - Aidan



At the time, the Rabbit Inn Incident was only more actions against African Americans in Southern Boston. There were reports of white violence towards African Americans, and even though police forces were dispatched, the violence grew (Tyler 139). During the desegregation in Boston, the tension between the races was high already. The incident was made much worse by the police brutality that came instead of the help that should have come. This struck fear and aggression into the blacks in Southern Boston. Riots and other police resistance increased from African Americans in their threatened state. It created a vicious cycle for South Boston because the police had to push back the African Americans, but that then caused the African Americans to resist them more. What started as one incident in a local bar, became a widespread issue that only dulled because of continuous force from the police.

Works Cited: Tyler, Steven L. Desegregation in Boston and Buffalo: The Influence of Local Leaders. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 1998. Print. 7 January 2014. Chesson, Michael. "The Athens of America." The American History News Network. 16 Apr.