Congressional Investigation of East St. Louis Massacre Suppressed by War Department

Following the East St. Louis massacre, Congress launched an investigation that documented the scale of the attack and the failure of state militia to protect Black residents. The investigation produced damning evidence that the governor and local officials had failed to act. The Wilson administration and War Department, however, pressured investigators to minimize findings that might interfere with military mobilization or embarrass the administration. The final report understated deaths, muted criticism of officials, and produced no criminal prosecutions of those responsible for killing over 100 Black Americans.