| Macaroni Riots | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Damage to Frank P. Ventrone's storefront, August 31, 1914 | |||
| Date | August 29 – September 7, 1914 | ||
| Location | 41°49′24.5″N 71°25′27.5″W / 41.823472°N 71.424306°W | ||
| Caused by |
| ||
| Goals | Reduced price of pasta products | ||
| Methods | |||
| Resulted in | Socialist activists negotiate a deal with local food wholesaler to lower prices | ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | Several dozen, including at least 14 by gunshot wounds | ||
| Arrested | 50 | ||
| Damage | $20,000 in property damage ($608,000 in 2023) | ||
The Macaroni Riots were a series of civil disturbances that took place in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, in 1914. The first riot occurred on the night of August 29 and was followed by additional nights of rioting on August 30 and September 7.
The food riot stemmed from an increase in the price of food, particularly pasta products such as macaroni, that affected the predominately Italian American population of Federal Hill in 1914. On August 22, socialist activists held a peaceful rally to protest the price increases, and on August 29, another rally turned violent as a mob of about 1,000 people marched down Atwells Avenue and looted the store of Frank P. Ventrone, a local food wholesaler who had been accused of profiteering. The angry mob caused thousands of dollars in damages and threw pasta products into the streets before police officers restored order. Additional rioting broke out the following night. Following this, socialist activists negotiated with Ventrone's associates and were able to broker a deal where he would sell his product at a reduced cost. Following a peaceful week, another riot occurred on the night of September 7 following a Labor Day rally that caused more property damage than the previous two riots combined. While additional rallies and protests occurred after this, the price protests slowly died down.
The rioting, which resulted in several thousand dollars in property damage, was the most severe civil disturbance in Providence since the Dorr Rebellion of 1841. In the end, 50 people were arrested and several dozen were injured, including at least 14 by gunshot wounds. Most of the arrested were charged with reveling and given light fines, while two people were found guilty of more severe charges and sentenced to several months in jail. In addition to the price increases, historians point to anti-Italian discrimination, especially among the police, and organization by radical groups such as the Industrial Workers of the World as contributing to the violence.