Image source: www.blackpast.org
Detroit 1967: 12th Street Riot
The year is 1967. In the city of Detroit, tension between races is growing. The black population in Detroit is growing, whilst the white population is diminishing. Segregation is still an everyday issue faced by African Americans. Housing available to African Americans is unequal to that available to white people. The industrial workforce is declining because white employers would rather hire white people. Since the white population is declining, so is the industry. The economy was on decline and Detroit was entering the era of violence that the city is best known for.
On a Sunday evening, Detroit Police Vice Squad raided an unlicensed bar expecting a couple patrons to be in, but a celebration was going on for two black Vietnam soldier's' return. Instead, they arrested all 82 people in the bar. On the way to the police office, a crowd of around 200 people gathered in anger over the rumors of excessive force used by police officers. Later into the night, an empty glass bottle was thrown at the rear window of a cop car and then a waste basket. Into the early morning, more officers were sent to the scene to help calm the violence and reported injuries due to things being thrown at them. As violence spread all throughout 12th street, Detroit Congressmen climbed on top of a car to address the issue and was pelted with bricks and bottles. Violence carried on throughout the night and for 5 days and 5 nights stores and gas stations were being vandalized by angry patrons. One white man in particular was seen looting a store and was shot on the spot. This instance in particular shows the anger and violence through the whole city of Detroit.
In the end, the riots during this 5 day and 5 night period caused 33 blacks and 10 whites to be killed, 1,189 people were injured, and 7,200 people were arrested. Many of the stores on 12th Street that were damaged or destroyed were never rebuilt. Also President Johnson appointed to study the causes of the riots and called this the Kerner Commission. The commission reported in 1968 that this was due to white racism and other similar ideas and the report also warned "our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal."
On a Sunday evening, Detroit Police Vice Squad raided an unlicensed bar expecting a couple patrons to be in, but a celebration was going on for two black Vietnam soldier's' return. Instead, they arrested all 82 people in the bar. On the way to the police office, a crowd of around 200 people gathered in anger over the rumors of excessive force used by police officers. Later into the night, an empty glass bottle was thrown at the rear window of a cop car and then a waste basket. Into the early morning, more officers were sent to the scene to help calm the violence and reported injuries due to things being thrown at them. As violence spread all throughout 12th street, Detroit Congressmen climbed on top of a car to address the issue and was pelted with bricks and bottles. Violence carried on throughout the night and for 5 days and 5 nights stores and gas stations were being vandalized by angry patrons. One white man in particular was seen looting a store and was shot on the spot. This instance in particular shows the anger and violence through the whole city of Detroit.
In the end, the riots during this 5 day and 5 night period caused 33 blacks and 10 whites to be killed, 1,189 people were injured, and 7,200 people were arrested. Many of the stores on 12th Street that were damaged or destroyed were never rebuilt. Also President Johnson appointed to study the causes of the riots and called this the Kerner Commission. The commission reported in 1968 that this was due to white racism and other similar ideas and the report also warned "our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal."
The video above shows footage from a 1967 newsreel. The video focuses on what what was done to quell the riots in Detroit.