The event occurred not because of any single event, but instead because of the growth of the Southern Christian Army. It became standard for students in colleges and business leaders to join the SCA. The majority of successful southerners were now members of the SCA, a predominantly Protestant organization. In the North, a different organization was founded. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic group named after the famous explorer, emerged as a Northern answer for the SCA. The group took hold across the North, but also grew heavily in Maryland, a very Catholic state. The presence of a rival so close to the SCA's center of power in Richmond, caused a great deal of fear. That fear lashed out into violence in December of 1882.
The firekeg was lit when Charles Miner was killed. Miner was a black Catholic who had found work in Richmond. He was accused, falsely, of the rape of a white woman. The SCA led the crusade to apprehend him. Miner fled, and sought sanctuary in a Catholic church. A group of SCA supporters found him, and murdered him. This infuriated the Knights of Columbus, who flooded Richmond in protest. The result of was a fist fight that grew into a riot. 15 men were killed, another 50 were wounded. Two churches, one Protestant and one Catholic, were burnt in the process. Thomas Jackson, now in his late 50's, was forced to resign as head of the SCA as a result. The SCA was thrown into a state of disarray, and the government was faced with a black eye from the violence.