War of jay and woodpeckers

According to one version, the conflict got its name from the African-American Bob Chapel ( born Bob Chapel ), who was said to sing about jays and woodpeckers . White racists (“jays”) claimed to represent 90% of the population - all non-Africans. The "Jays" tried to get rid of the power of the "woodpeckers" - the majority who seized the Democratic Party of the district and gained control of the district during the Reconstruction of the opponents of segregation - mostly those who were during the Reconstruction of the Republican Party. "Woodpeckers", which numbered about 40 people, including African Americans, retained political power in the district even after the end of the Reconstruction era.

There was a quarrel between the rival candidates during the 1888 elections. On August 2, the leader of the "jays" J.M. Shamblin was killed. In September, another jay leader, Henry Frost, was badly injured. On September 6, the Jays held a rally in Richmond , at which they demanded that some African Americans leave the district for ten hours, which they did. As members of both factions were armed, Texas Rangers arrived in Richmond, making the hardest elections in the history of the district were held peacefully. The democrats were again defeated and the “woodpeckers” remained in power. After the election, the feud between the factions intensified. There were insults, assaults, threats and denunciations, as well as two more murders. On June 21, 1889, Kyle Terry, a tax assessor for "woodpeckers", shot and killed at Wharton L. Gibson; a week later, Terry was killed by Volnee Gibson. The district became an armed camp, and on August 16, 1889, the "Richmond Battle" began.

The exchange of shots between J. W. Parker and W. T. Wade from "woodpeckers" and Gilf and Walne Gibson from "jays" became a signal to start the fight. The main events took place near the courthouse, the National Hotel and the McFarlan Residence. After a 20-minute firefight, “woodpeckers” retreated to the courthouse and control over the city passed to the “jays”. Losses were big. Waiting for the continuation of the battle, supporters of jays began arriving from all over the county to Richmond, but hostilities did not resume. On August 17, the Houston light cavalry and Governor Lawrence Ross arrived in the city. Ross stayed in Richmond for several days to act as an intermediary between the factions. All officials, "woodpeckers" were dismissed, or resigned, and their place was taken by "jays" or people who arranged them. After more than 20 years, the power in the district reverted to white.

On October 22, 1889, the Democratic Organization "Jays" of Fort Bend County was created, which dominated local politics until the 1950s. The organization eliminated the power of "woodpeckers" due to the fact that it held elections "only for whites" ( English white-only ) during the preliminary voting ( primaries ) in the offices of the Democratic Party of the Okrug. The Jays retained control of the Democrats until, in 1953, their decision on the “white-only” primaries was overturned by a decision of the US Supreme Court in the case ( 345 US 461 ).

• Jaybird – Woodpecker War (Rus.) . Handbook of Texas. The appeal date is July 30, 2015.
• Gary Brown. The Jaybird-Woodpecker War of Fort Bend County (Eng.) . Enchanted Rock Magazine (May – June 1998). The appeal date is July 30, 2015.