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This Day in Arkansas History

May 6, 1980

It was announced that Fort Chaffee would be a Cuban refugee resettlement center after the Cuban government allowed American boats to pick up refugees at the port of Mariel. Three weeks later, a number of refugees rioted at Fort Chaffee and burned two buildings. State troopers and tear gas were used to break up the crowd, and eighty-four Cubans were jailed. In two years, Fort Chaffee processed 25,390 Cuban refugees. Fort Chaffee, just outside of Fort Smith (Sebastian County) and Barling (Sebastian County) on Arkansas Highway 22, has served the United States as an army training camp, a prisoner-of-war camp, and a refugee camp. Currently, 66,000 acres are used by the Arkansas National Guard.

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Isaac Parker

In 1875, Ohio-born Isaac Parker was appointed the federal judge for Arkansas’s Western District, which consisted mostly of the Indian Territory. For approximately twenty-one years, Judge Parker presided over almost 14,000 cases, of which 344 were for capital offenses. He became known as the “hanging judge” for his 160 death sentences, of which seventy-nine were carried out by hanging. Parker died in 1896 and is buried in Fort Smith National Cemetery.

 

In 1875, Ohio-born Isaac Parker was appointed the federal judge for Arkansas’s Western District, which consisted mostly of the Indian Territory. For approximately twenty-one years, Judge Parker presided over almost 14,000 cases, of which 344 were for capital offenses. He became known as the “hanging judge” for his 160 death sentences, of which seventy-nine were carried out by hanging. Parker died in 1896 and is buried in Fort Smith National Cemetery.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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