Thousands Likely to Be Evicted in ‘Restricted Zone

Thousands Likely to Be Evicted in ‘Restricted Zone

World War I

Immigrants who worked in Connecticut factories and lived in its cities became a target for fear and hostility during the war. Immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary were prohibited by state law from living in areas close to important factories or harbors, and were required to register with the police, who watched for any signs of disloyalty. A Bridgeport ordinance allowed police to sweep through the city during a strike; over 5,000 such “slackers” were arrested during a summer of strikes in 1918 and turned over to the draft board for induction.

Bridgeport Evening Farmer

April 14, 1917