Shelburne Riots
Shelburne, NS, Canada

The Shelburne riots took place in the summer of 1784 by Loyalist veterans of the American War of Independence against Black Loyalists and government officials. This incident is considered the first race riot in Canada, lasting about a month. The Shelburne Riot was symbolic of the broader racial prejudices encountered by Black Nova Scotians in the years following the American Revolution. At the time, it had little immediate effect on the county. However, the region’s economy and population declined soon after.

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