Rodney riots Rodney riots The Rodney riots were riots and civil disturbances in Kingston, Jamaica in October 1968. The riots were sparked by the Jamaican government of Hugh Shearer banning Guyanese university lecturer Dr. Walter Rodney from returning to his teaching position at the University of the West Indies. Rodney, a historian of Africa had been active in the Black power movement, and had been sharply critical of the middle class in many Caribbean countries. Rodney was an avowed socialist who worked with the poor of Jamaica in an attempt to raise their political and cultural consciousness. When Rodney attended a black
1981 Chapeltown riots 1981 Chapeltown riots The Chapeltown Riots of 1981 took place in the Leeds district of Chapeltown in West Yorkshire, England, during a time when many other areas of the UK were suffering similar problems (such as London, Birmingham and Liverpool). The riots unfolded in July 1981 from a background of racial tension, inner city poverty, poor housing and high unemployment (which was rising rapidly as a result of the recession at the time). This brought high tension, particularly amongst the area's Caribbean community, culminating in attacks on the local police. These weren't to be the last riots in the area.