The long, hot months of summer seem to inspire some citizens to take to the streets, sometimes in violent protest. Evansville witnessed its own drama on June 11, 1945, when the “bingo battle†that had simmered between the young Men’s Democratic Club and Republican Mayor Manson Reichert suddenly erupted. It had been triggered by Reichert’s threat of a police raid if members played bingo at their club at First and Main streets. State regulations banned gambling, but some organizations were exempt from the law if games were played to raise money for charity. In this image, part of the 7,000 protesters on hand witnessed the overturning of an EPD patrol car. Several arrests were made for disorderly conduct.
Delta Bravo isn’t going to like this.
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