Mayor La Guardia addresses disturbances in Harlem

New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia in 1943 makes a dedication speech from a podium at the opening of the Fort Green Housing Development for war workers, Brooklyn.

This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Mayor Fiorello La Guardia addresses the people of Harlem in the wake of an altercation between the police and a soldier. Speaking in the very early morning hours, he asks that the neighborhood's inhabitants go to their homes and go to bed in order to avoid further violence.

Max Yergin and Ferdinand Smith also speak, echoing La Guardia's request that the people of West Harlem get out of the streets and return home.

[Poor quality original.]


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 8602
Municipal archives id: LT4030