Banished from Johnstown: Racist Backlash in Pennsylvania

“Banished from Johnstown: Racist Backlash in Pennsylvania” by Cody McDevitt, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2020, explores a significant civil rights injustice in Western Pennsylvania. This edition, comprising 223 pages, delves into the events of 1923 when the mayor of Johnstown ordered the expulsion of every African American and Mexican immigrant who had resided in the city for less than seven years. The drastic measure, enacted in response to the fatal shooting of four policemen, forced approximately two thousand individuals to leave their homes under threat of fines or imprisonment.

Readers will find a detailed account of the societal and racial tensions that led to this edict, as well as the broader implications for civil rights in the United States. The narrative highlights the role of local Ku Klux Klan members who celebrated the establishment of a “sundown town” and intensified their intimidation tactics. Additionally, the book discusses the responses from figures like Marcus Garvey and the national media’s condemnation of these actions, providing a comprehensive view of this dark chapter in American history.