This article is about riots in the Caribbean in 1968. For information about the so-called "Rodney King Riots" see 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The Rodney Riots were a series of riots and civil disturbances centred mostly in Jamaica, but spreading also to other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Tobago in October 1968.

The riots were inspired when the Jamaican government of Hugh Shearer banned Walter Rodney from returning to his teaching position at the University of the West Indies. Rodney, a historian of Africa had been active in the Black power movement, and had been sharply critical of the middle class in many Caribbean countries. Rodney was an avowed socialist who worked with the poor of Jamaica in an attempt to raise their political and cultural consciousness.

When Rodney took a trip to attend a black writers' conference in Montreal, Canada in October 1968 the government took the opportunity to ban him from returning, citing among other things trips to Cuba and the USSR as justification.

On learning of the ban students at UWI, Mona began a demonstration, closing down the campus. They then proceeded to march to the seat of government in Kingston. On the way many more demonstrators joined in, and eventually the disturbance became increasingly violent spreading across the city. Eventually, several people were killed and there were millions of dollars in property damages.

News of the riots spread across the Caribbean, eventually leading to a mutiny of soldiers in Trinidad.

External link

• Walter Rodney and Heresy