Trey Kay Published

No Justice In Augusta: Remembering A Little Known Race Riot

Augusta Georgia Riot
Charles Oatman in his A.R. Johnson Junior High School yearbook portrait. On Saturday, May 9, 1970, the news of the 16-year-old’s torture and brutal death caused long-simmering frustrations about racial injustice to boil over.
Miami Herald
Listen

We can document almost everything around us with devices of all kinds, but in 1970, there were few cameras around when police opened fire on crowds in Augusta, Georgia.

A protest-turned-riot over the brutal murder of a Black teenager left six Black men dead from police bullets. There was never justice for any of the deaths, including 16-year-old Charles Oatman, who died in the Richmond County Jail. The story of that riot remains relatively unknown among Augusta residents both Black and white.

Us & Them host Trey Kay talks with podcast producer Sea Stachura about her award-winning work, “Shots in the Back: Exhuming the 1970 Augusta Riot.” Historians call it one of the largest uprisings of the Civil Rights Era in the Deep South. 

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, CRC Foundation and the West Virginia Humanities Council.

Click on the hyperlinked title to hear the entire award-winning podcast series, Shots In The Back: Exhuming The 1970 Augusta Riot.

Charles Oatman Photo

Miami Herald
/
Charles Oatman in his A.R. Johnson Junior High School yearbook portrait. On Saturday, May 9, the news of the 16-year-old’s torture and brutal death brought long-simmering frustrations about racial injustice to a boiling point.
Augusta Municipal Building

Augusta College Yearbook
/
Black protesters gather in front of the Municipal Building in Augusta, GA mid-afternoon on Monday, May 11 to demand answers from law enforcement officials about the circumstances of the death of Charles Oatman.
Hill's Food Store

Augusta Chronicle
/
On May 11, 1970, this was 9th Street (today it’s James Brown Blvd) at the intersection of D’Antignac Street in Augusta, GA, where working-class African American residents ransacked White-owned Hill’s Food Store.
White's Laundry, Augusta GA

Augusta Chronicle
/
White-owned Snow’s Laundry and Dry Cleaning in Augusta, GA goes up in flames after a firebombing.
Williams Beauty Supply and the Harlem Pawn Shop

Paine College Yearbook
/
Augusta policemen patrol while white-owned stores Williams Beauty Supply and the Harlem Pawn Shop burn.
Overturned Car

Paine College Yearbook
/
Policemen with shotguns occupy a part of Augusta where protesters overturned the car of a white motorist.
Augusta 6

New England Free Press / Library of Congress
/
“Don’t mourn … organize! Remember the Augusta six.” poster from 1970.
Jesseye Norman Students Visit Charles Oatman's Grave

Sea Stachura
/
Students from the Jessye Norman School of Arts – Podcasting Class on a field trip with Linton Oatman to visit the grave of his nephew Charles Oatman.
Sea Stachura's Students

Sea Stachura
/
Students from Sea Stachura’s Podcasting Class at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in Augusta, GA helped with the reporting on a podcast series that was honored with an National Edward R. Murrow Award.
Murrows2021_Awards-108.png

RTDNA – Edward R. Murrow Awards
/
Sea Stachura bobbles her award at the 2021 National Edward R. Murrow Honors in New York City.

Tags Related to This Article

Related News

Arts & Culture Maria Young,

Abrupt Loss Of Federal Funds Forces Cuts To Humanities Programs Statewide

A collection of note-worthy musicians were inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Saturday night – in a musical gala held despite a massive, eleventh hour setback.  The sudd...

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Arts & Culture Eric Douglas,

Road Racing Returning To Charleston

The 2025 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships, presented by Spilman Thomas & Battle, are planned for May 19 to 26.  This year’s event includes the debut of the Under-23 (U-23) Women’...

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Government WVPB Staff,

Cultural Events Lose Federal Funding And Environmental Impacts Of Executive Order, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, cultural events across the state are dealing with the unexpected loss of promised federal funds, and a look at the environmental effects of President Trump's executive orders on energy.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News
Government WVPB Staff,

Passed And Failed Legislation Of the 2025 Session And Traditional Tattoos And Music In East Kentucky, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the high-profile legislation that passed – and failed –during the 2025 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature and a look at an East Kentucky artist.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News