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Nativist Riots, Kensington Philadelphia

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6/25/2025 for Kensington Avenue Poetry Contest sponsored by Anthony Biaanco

Sit down, and let me tell you, son, about the historic district, Kensington, in the year eighteen-forty-four, when the streets broke out in war.  The Irish-Catholic were new arrivals, impoverished, fighting for survival. The existing population was disquieted, and so, Philadelphia nativists rioted. It was then that false rumors were passed. In a bad light, the Irish were cast, Propaganda and lies, the devil's tools, "They want to remove the Bible from schools". But son, these things wouldn't happen today. We are enlightened, though let me just say, if there is an unpleasant circumstance, just blame it on the immigrants.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 6/25/2025 8:18:00 PM
Brilliant recapture of the more things change, the more they stay the same, David. Deja vu... boo-hoo ~ Gershon
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David Crandall
Date: 6/26/2025 10:12:00 AM
Yep, well said. At least this contest gave me an opportunity to bone up on my history.

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