Here’s a brief look back in time for this day, April 13. NOTE: Content in this article discusses mass lynchings. Reader discretion is advised.
In 1873, around 150 black freedmen were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan and ex-Confederate soldiers in Colfax, LA. This followed the heavily disputed 1872 gubernatorial election in Louisiana, in which both the Democrats and Republicans claimed victory. At this time, the Democratic party heavily favored segregationist policies while radical Republicans championed the abolition of slavery and equal rights for both white and black Americans. A day before the massacre, Reconstructionists began crowding the Grant Parish Courthouse as a protest against white supremacists. The supremacists then brought 300 of their own to push the protesters out, eventually rolling a canon over as a final warning. The occupation ended shortly afterwards. The next day however, dozens of unarmed black men would be burned, bludgeoned, and shot to death in a series of mass murders. A lot of the bodies were either buried in mass graves or thrown into the nearby Red River. The Colfax Massacre took place on what’s supposed to be a day of peace and celebration in the Christian world: Easter Sunday.
In 1978, the opening day for the New York Yankees goes a bit awry when fans begin tossing thousands of Reggie! bars onto the playing field. This was during a golden age for the Yankees as they proceed to win the World Series later this year and the one prior. Reggie Jackson contributed massively to the Yankees success as their star outfielder and batter. He once joked that a candy bar would be named after him, and Curtis Candy Co. made it a reality. As part of a promotion for the big opening day, Yankee Stadium handed thousands of Reggie! bars to fans. With each home run Jackson made, it literally began to rain Reggie! bars, prompting a short five-minute game delay to clean up the candy bars.