The Bonus March was a protest and occupation of the National Mall by World War I veterans who were demanding pensions. Lack of work because of the Great Depression made the need for pensions particularly pressing. Nearly 43,000 participated in the protest. Some camped on the Mall or nearby, while others occupied government-owned buildings near the Mall.
On July 28, 1932, Attorney General William D. Mitchell ordered the veterans be removed from the Mall and their other camps. Resistance to police pressure led to an outbreak of violence. Many were injured, but Carlson was mortally wounded and
William Hushka was killed. When police action proved insufficient to remove the protesters, Army Chief of Staff
Douglas MacArthur brought soldiers onto the Mall, supported by six tanks, to remove the remaining demonstrators and burn their shelters and belongings.