What was the Rosedale incident and why is it being remembered 100 years later?
JOHNSTOWN ― The 100th anniversary of a racially charged incident in the city is being remembered on Thursday with events that include a prayer vigil, photo exhibition, book signing and panel discussion.
These public events will commemorate the centennial of the Rosedale incident, in which approximately 2,000 African-American and Mexican immigrants were ordered to leave Johnstown by then-Mayor Joseph Cauffiel.
A proclamation has been signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro proclaiming Sept. 7 as “Rosedale Banishment Remembrance Day."
“The Rosedale Banishment represents a tragic moment in our Commonwealth’s history,” the proclamation reads in part. “As Governor Pinchot fought for the rights of all Pennsylvanians in 1923, my administration has and will continue to stand for the rights of all people. We cannot tolerate nor excuse any form of hate in our communities. I firmly believe that no matter your race, religion, or background, you have a place in Pennsylvania.”
How it happened: Part 1: Rosedale and the struggle for civil rights
What anniversary events are planned?
A prayer vigil starts at noon Thursday at the gazebo in Johnstown’s Central Park, sponsored by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference United Women in Faith and the Summit Transformational Action Antiracism Team.
Community leaders and members of the region’s faith community are to attend and speak at the vigil, including the Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, bishop of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Sung Chung, superintendent of the Johnstown District of the United Methodist Church.
A second prayer vigil is taking place at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 in Pittsburgh at Freedom Corner, which is located at the intersection of Centre Avenue and Crawford Street in the Hill District section of the city.
What happened next: Part 2: Rosedale and the struggle for civil rights
At 7 p.m. Thursday, a photograph exhibit, book talk and panel discussion about the Rosedale incident and racial injustice will be held at the Heritage Discovery Center on Broad Street in Johnstown.
Panelists for “Rosedale Remembered: A Commemoration of Shame and Commitment to Change” are Kourtney Square, Carol Francois, Jackie Gunby and Cody McDevitt, author of the book “Banished from Johnstown: Racist Backlash in Pennsylvania.”
McDevitt, now a Pittsburgh resident, researched and wrote several newspaper articles and the book about the Rosedale incident while living and working in Somerset as a former journalist for the Daily American.
The exhibition, book talk and panel discussion are free, but those who plan to attend are to register in advance at www.jaha.org/events.
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What was the Rosedale incident?
In 1923, the Rosedale section of Johnstown was one of several communities in the city where people of color, including those of African-American and Mexican heritage, came to live and work for the city’s thriving steel industry and other business interests.
On Aug. 30, a Black man from Rosedale named Robert Young, who was angry about a domestic situation and under the influence of alcohol, picked up a firearm and began firing shots in the area. He then shot and wounded a Johnstown police officer who heard the gunshots and responded to the scene. As additional police officers arrived to confront Young, he fired at them as well, until an officer stopped him with a fatal gunshot to the chest.
Young’s violent actions that day caused the deaths of three police officers and left two others seriously wounded.
The incident intensified racial tensions within the city and led to former Mayor Joseph Cauffiel’s Sept. 7 order that all Black and Mexican people who were living in the city for less than seven years had to leave Johnstown within 24 hours.
About 2,000 Black and Mexican immigrants left Johnstown based upon the mayor’s order, although he never officially issued the order nor was it ever enforced by city police, according to McDevitt's newspaper articles.
Public reaction to Cauffiel’s order was fast and furious from communities beyond Johnstown. The NAACP called on then-Gov. Gifford Pinchot to step in and stop the order, and several Pittsburgh newspapers blasted Cauffiel for his decision. Voters in Johnstown also made their opinions clear less than two weeks later, turning away Cauffiel in the primary election for his mayoral re-election bid.
Today, a historical marker stands along Honan Avenue in Johnstown, above where the Rosedale community once stood. The Laurel Highlands Historical Village and various community partners produced and installed the sign to share the history of the Rosedale community with those who walk along the Honan Avenue Community Hiking and Biking Trail.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Johnstown PA remembers 100th anniversary of Rosedale incident
