March 11, 1854: A mob, disagreeing with the Fugitive Slave Act, battered down the jail door in Milwaukee freeing runaway slave Joshua Glover. Glover escaped from his Missouri master in 1852 and came to Racine where he worked in a mill. His master found him and had him put in the Milwaukee jail, leading to a small revolt on March 11, 1854.
Great Excitement at Racine!
Brutal Arrest of a Colored Man!
At the ringing of the Court Hourse bell this morning, the largest meeting of citizens ever held here was convened, without distinction of party. The following resolutions were adapted: Whereas, A colored man by the name of Joshua Glover, was kidnapped four miles from our city, last night about 8 o'clock, who was at the time of his arrest at work for one of our citizens, and was also a faithful laborer and honest man. Resolved, that we look upon the arrest of said Glover as an outrage upon the peaceful rights of this community, it having been made without the exhibition of any papers by first clandestinely knocking him down with a heavy club and then gagging and binding him by brute force, and carrying him off. Resolved, That we as citizens of Racine, demand for said Glover, a fair and impartial jury trial, in this the city where he has been arrested,and that we will attend in person and aid him by all honorable means, to secure his unconditional release, adopting as our motto the Golden Rule.