Lee Street in Alexandria was the center of a thriving African-American community during the early 1940s, with two churches, eight eating establishments, three funeral homes, five grocery stores, eight entertainment venues, a pharmacy, a bus line, a sporting arena, an Army YMCA-USO building, and the Ritz Theater. Many African-American soldiers stationed at local military bases patronized these businesses while on leave. On Saturday night, January 10, 1942, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and American entry into World War II, a tragic incident occurred in front of the Ritz Theater involving unarmed African-American soldiers and predominantly white, armed Military Police. The War Department's official report indicated that three African-American soldiers were critically wounded and 29 others required medical treatment as a result of the riot, while civilian witnesses said that more than 20 soldiers were killed, others wounded, and numerous civilians were killed or wounded.