In Rock Springs, Wyoming, a significant and violent clash occurred between white miners and Chinese laborers during a period marked by intense labor struggles in the mining industry. The white miners were primarily protesting against wage cuts and poor working conditions, which pressured them to unionize for better labor rights. Frustration boiled over as the miners scapegoated their Chinese counterparts, whom they viewed as competition for jobs and wages. On September 2, 1885, this tension erupted into a violent attack, led by approximately 150 white miners who targeted the Chinese workers residing in the area.

The attack culminated in the brutal killings of 28 Chinese miners and left 15 others wounded, with many others forced to flee for their lives. The violence was fueled by a deeply entrenched racism, as well as economic anxiety in a rapidly industrializing nation that was beginning to grapple with the complexities of immigrant labor. The authorities' inability to intervene effectively during the chaos only highlights the lack of protection for minority groups at the time, placing the Chinese workers in a precarious position.

This incident did not occur in isolation; it reflected broader national tensions surrounding immigration and labor in the U.S. during the late 19th century. The influx of Chinese immigrants had transformed the labor landscape, particularly in industries such as mining and railroad construction. This transformation was met with fierce resistance from native-born workers, who often resorted to violence to defend their economic interests. Ultimately, the Rock Springs massacre stands as a striking example of the intersections of race, labor, and violence in American society.