Gin Bottle Riot 1964 - Fair Wear - Unisex Organic T-Shirt - FREE DELIVERY

On 16 August 1964, the gin bottle riot began in the Chicago suburb of Dixmoor, the day after a liquor store owner was accused of beating a Black woman, Blondella Woods, who allegedly attempted to shoplift a bottle of gin. 150 local residents held a demonstration outside of the shop, and when the shop owner was eventually arrested by police, the crowd began rocking the car. Clashes erupted between police firing teargas, and the local community throwing rocks. The liquor store was looted, and nearby buildings set on fire. One civil rights leader, Syd Finlay of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) called for calm at a church meeting: "We have been turning the other cheek in the past. Can't we turn the other cheek one more time?" According to a Chicago Tribune reporter, the crowd responded with loud shouts of "No!" and Finlay sat down. The disturbances lasted for three days, until eventually dying down after dozens of people had been wounded and arrested by police. The shop owner was eventually acquitted of assault, while Woods was convicted for shoplifting.

This design is by Chris W. Jany and symbolically features a gin bottle from the fictional Blondella Woods Justice Distillery. It represents the fight against structural, everyday racism in the United States, which remains widespread and often deadly even more than 60 years later.

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Stay stylish with this unisex t-shirt. It’s made from 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton, combining comfort with durability. The textured ribbed neck strikes a balance between sporty and casual and adds versatility to your wardrobe. Timeless and top quality—this is the t-shirt you’ll want to wear on repeat.
• 100% organic combed ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 5.3 oz./yd.² (180 g/m²)
• Regular fit
• Set-in sleeves
• 1 × 1 rib at collar
• Double-needle topstitch on the sleeves and bottom hems
• Self-fabric neck tape on the inside of the back
• The fabric of this product holds certifications for its organic cotton content under GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OCS (Organic Content Standard)
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

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