On Thursday, a marker was unveiled in downtown Danville in memory of a pivotal event in the history of the city. A marker was unveiled in memory of the Danville Riot/Danville Massacre of 1883.

The new marker at 332 Main Street is part of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ Highway Marker Program. The Danville Riot occurred on November 3, 1883 and started as a fight between a white man and two black men.

The fight escalated and resulted in five black men being shot and killed. The tension came after the biracial Readjuster Party had taken control of the city council in 1882.

A number of white citizens that felt threatened by the changes and published the Danville Circular in October of 1883. The Danville Circular attacked African Americans and the Readjuster Party.

To read more on the Danville Riot of 1883 click here.