Police Search After Bombing in 1908 Union Square Riot

This photograph captures a tense moment following a bomb-throwing incident during an anarchist riot in Union Square, New York, on March 28, 1908. The police are actively scouring the area after the violence erupted, reflecting the heightened tensions of the time. Anarchist movements were gaining traction in the U.S., and they often clashed with law enforcement and their political opponents. The chaos of the riot exemplifies the struggles between differing social ideologies in early 20th-century America.

The case of Max Dolinger, an 18-year-old implicated in these events, drew significant media attention, as highlighted in a New York Times article on March 30, 1908. This incident not only underscores the rise of radical political movements in urban settings but also the public’s growing concern about safety and order in society. The photograph serves as a stark visual reminder of a pivotal moment in American history when political protests turned violent, and communities grappled with the implications of social change.