Racial Conflict (Berea, KY)

A shootout occurred September 1, 1968 in Berea, KY, following the end of a National States' Rights Party meeting. It was not determined who fired the first shot, but the disagreement over segregation took place on the street between the white party members leaving the meeting and a carload of African Americans.

Two men were killed: Elza Rucker, a white man who lived in Lexington, KY but was a Berea native; and African American Lenoa John Boggs from Berea. One man was injured when he was struck by a state police car rushing to the scene, and a number of others were injured from shotgun blasts.

The Berea Police Department was assisted by state troopers in bringing the situation under control. Fourteen men who were involved in the shootings were arrested for murder.

For more see "Headline: Racial Violence / Reaction / Kentucky," CBS Evening News (archives), 9/04/1968, record #199944; "2 Die in Kentucky in Racial battle," New York Times, 1/02/1968, p. 13; S. Connelly, "Racial Shooting in Berea on 1 Sep 1968," 5/25/05, Berea Encyclopedia [blog]; Algeo, Matthew, "Book Excerpt: Berea’s Deadly Racial Shootout of 1968" from the dailyyounder.com website, March 10, 2020; and articles in the Berea Citizen newspaper beginning 9/1968.