Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union Riot

Why did the riot happen?  After Marshall had resigned, Lim Yew Hock became the  next Chief Minister. He announced that the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union(SCMSSU) would closed down because of communist activities.

When and how did it happen?
The students camped at Chung Cheng High School and The Chinese High School. They sat-in over the next two weeks, organising meetings and holding demonstrations. On 24 October 1956, the government told the parent persuade their children to return home but most of them refused. On the same day, the pro-Communist leader, Lim Chin Siong had organsied a workers' meeting. When the meeting ended, some of the workers joined the students in creating disorder.
On October 24, the government issued an ultimatum that the schools be vacated. As the deadline approached, riots started at the Chinese High School and spread to other parts of the island.
On 26 October 1956, the police entered the schools and cleared the student using tear gas. The student were forced out of the school and headed for city. The student threw stones and bottle, overturned cars and damaged traffic lights and it continued for three days.
The police imposed curfew, during the curfew, the police and the army set up road-blocks to prevent large crowds gathering at one place.

What happened after the riot?

The riots came to an end when the police arrested nine hundred people including Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan and Devan Nair. They were released in 1959 when the People's Action Party, led by Lee Kuan Yew, won the 1959 general election to form the government as Singapore gained self rule.Over the next five days, 13 people were killed and more than 100 were injured.
Similar to the Hock Lee Bus riot, the riots in October 1956 involved both students and workers. It was evident that the Communists had employed the same strategy of organising student and labour movement to challenge the government.