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Today in History: Wilmington Massacre: White Supremacists Overthrow Government

11/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On November 10, 1898, white supremacists in Wilmington, North Carolina, executed a violent coup, overthrowing the local government and massacring black residents. This event, known as the Wilmington insurrection, marks the only instance of a municipal government being forcibly seized in U.S. history, initially misrepresented by the press as a race riot.

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Story summary

On November 10, 1898, white supremacists in Wilmington, North Carolina, executed a violent coup, overthrowing the local government and massacring black residents. This event, known as the Wilmington insurrection, marks the only instance of a municipal government being forcibly seized in U.S. history, initially misrepresented by the press as a race riot.