Due to its decades-later media coverage, Robertson is most known for his role in the 1969 York Race Riot, while serving as a police officer. He helped to incite the violence by shouting, "White power!" and by allegedly giving white rioters ammunition and encouraging them to, "kill as many niggers as [they] can." [8] [9] He was arrested on May 17, 2001, and released on $50,000 bail. [10] On May 27, 2001, Robertson was arraigned on murder charges stemming from his involvement in the riot; he was found not guilty on October 19, 2002. [8] While he admitted that he had shouted the racial slur (calling it "a youthful incident of ingrained police racism"), he steadfastly denied all other charges against him and refused to step down while mayor. [6] [11]
Robertson died on August 24, 2017, at Manor Care South in York, Pennsylvania at the age of 83, after being diagnosed with cancer about two years earlier. [1] [12] [13]
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References
- 1 2 "Former York Mayor Charlie Robertson, York mayor whose career was derailed for role in 1969 riots, dead at 83". York Daily Record. August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bunch, William (September 2, 2001). "Handcuffed By History". The New York Times Magazine . Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ↑ Joyce, Eileen (August 25, 2017). "The Rundown: Who was Charlie Robertson?". WITF-York Daily Record . Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ↑ Scolforo, Mark (August 24, 2017). "Ex-York mayor acquitted of 1969 race riot murder dies". Philadelphia Tribune . Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ↑ Allen, Kim (April 20, 2016). "Silent no more: The murder of Lillie Belle Allen". York Daily Record . Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Clines, Francis X. (May 17, 2001). "Mayor Says He Expects to Be Charged in 1969 Killing". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
- ↑ "'Murder is the charge': York Mayor Charlie Robertson accused in 1969 murder". York Daily Record. August 24, 2017 [First published in May 2001]. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- 1 2 "1969 Riot Investigation". York Daily Record . Archived from the original on March 21, 2006. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
- ↑ Scolforo, Mark (August 25, 2005). "Nearly 300 get call to testify". The York Dispatch . Retrieved December 27, 2008.
- ↑ Wakin, Daniel J. (May 18, 2001), "York, Pa., Mayor Is Arrested in 1969 Racial Killing", The New York Times, retrieved December 27, 2008
- ↑ Longman, Jere (November 1, 2001). "A City Begins to Confront Its Racist Past". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2008.
- ↑ Addy, Jason (August 24, 2017). "Former York City Mayor Charlie Robertson dies at 83; was acquitted of murder in race riots". York Dispatch. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ↑ Miller, Matt (August 24, 2017). "'He devoted his life to serving that city:' York's controversial ex-mayor Charlie Robertson dies". PennLive. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
External links
- Charlie Robertson affidavit from York Daily Record dated May 17, 2001
Charlie Robertson | |
|---|---|
| 22nd Mayor of York, Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1994 –January 7, 2002 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
