The New York City Riot That Started with a School Principal's Fight Against Adenoids
Much Ado About Adenoids
In 1906, a wave of violence swept through Manhattan's Lower East Side, culminating in one of the largest riots in New York City history. At the center was Adeline E. Simpson, principal of P.S. 110, who had been battling a medical campaign to remove children's adenoids, a procedure many immigrant parents saw as an assault. The riot, which involved doctors, teachers, and even utility workers being attacked, was fueled by misinformation and fear. This article explores the social conditions, the overcrowded schools, and the clash between progressive public health efforts and traditional immigrant communities, revealing a forgotten chapter of urban history.
The behavior of the crowd, on the other hand, made no sense at all. Innocent bystanders tended to run away from gang violence, yet the pushcart vendors and housewives surrounding the apparent holdup were not frightened, or even appealing for mercy. They were shouting, quite insistently, for the doctor's execution.