East Omaha in Douglas County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Vivian Strong
December 26, 2024
1. Vivian Strong Marker
Inscription.
Vivian Strong. . On June 24, 1969, 14-year-old Vivian Strong was shot and killed by James Loder, a white police officer, while leaving a party in the Logan Fontenelle public housing complex. Vivian was one of many teenagers at a dance party in a vacant housing unit that had been left unlocked by the maintenance crew. After a neighbor called the police and officers arrived, the teenagers ran from the party. Officer James Loder raised his gun and fired a single shot, hitting Vivian Strong in the back of her head as she ran away. Vivian was killed instantly. The shooting death of this unarmed Black girl by a white police officer sparked several days of turbulent protest along 24th Street. Burning and looting destroyed both white and Black owned businesses between Hamilton and Lake, forever changing this vibrant Northeast Omaha community. Vivian Strong was the fourth of ten children, and the emotional toll of her death had a devastating effect on the family. In March of 1970, an all-white jury acquitted Officer James Loder of all charges related to killing Vivian Strong.
On June 24, 1969, 14-year-old Vivian Strong was shot and killed by James Loder, a white police officer, while leaving a party in the Logan Fontenelle public housing complex. Vivian was one of many teenagers at a dance party in a vacant housing unit that had been left unlocked by the maintenance crew. After a neighbor called the police and officers arrived, the teenagers ran from the party. Officer James Loder raised his gun and fired a single shot, hitting Vivian Strong in the back of her head as she ran away. Vivian was killed instantly. The shooting death of this unarmed Black girl by a white police officer sparked several days of turbulent protest along 24th Street. Burning and looting destroyed both white and Black owned businesses between Hamilton and Lake, forever changing this vibrant Northeast Omaha community. Vivian Strong was the fourth of ten children, and the emotional toll of her death had a devastating effect on the family. In March of 1970, an all-white jury acquitted Officer James Loder of all charges related to killing Vivian Strong.
Erected 2023 by Strong Family & Vivian Strong Marker Committee; History
Location. 41° 16.676′ N, 95° 56.813′ W. Marker is in Omaha, Nebraska, in Douglas County. It is in East Omaha. It is on 24th Street north of Blondo Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2021 N 24th St, Omaha NE 68110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Additional commentary. 1. Erecting organization 'History Nebraska' is now known as the 'Nebraska State Historical Society'.
— Submitted January 29, 2025.
December 26, 2024
3. Vivian Strong Marker, from the north
December 26, 2024
4. Vivian Strong Memorial Marker, near 24th & Grant
In Loving Memory of Vivian Strong
December 24, 1954 June 24, 1969
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2025. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 26, 2025.
