Detroit Riot of 1967

Detroit Riot of 1967. The Detroit Riot of 1967 was a major civil disturbance that occurred in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in July 1967, involving African Americans, White Americans, Detroit Police Department, and Michigan National Guard. The riot was one of the deadliest and most destructive in the history of the United States, with John Conyers, Charles Diggs, and Rosa Parks playing significant roles in the aftermath. The event was also influenced by the Civil Rights Movement, led by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Thurgood Marshall.

Introduction

The Detroit Riot of 1967 was a culmination of longstanding tensions between the African American community and the Detroit Police Department, with Mayor Jerome Cavanagh and Governor George Romney attempting to address the issues. The riot was also linked to the broader Civil Rights Movement, with leaders such as Stokely Carmichael, H. Rap Brown, and Bayard Rustin advocating for Racial equality and Social justice. The event drew attention from national figures, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and Attorney General Ramsey Clark. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led by J. Edgar Hoover, also played a significant role in the investigation and response to the riot.

Causes and Events

The Detroit Riot of 1967 was sparked by a police raid on an African American-owned blind pig at 12th Street and Clairmount Avenue in Detroit, involving Police Commissioner Ray Girardin and Police Chief John Nichols. The event escalated into a citywide riot, with Looting, Arson, and Rioting spreading across Detroit, and Michigan State Police, Detroit Fire Department, and United States Army being deployed to restore order. The riot was also influenced by the Long Hot Summer of 1967, a wave of civil disturbances that swept across the United States, including the Newark Riot and the Milwaukee Riot, with National Guard units being deployed in several cities. Key figures, including Reverend Albert Cleage, Reverend C.L. Franklin, and Ike McKinnon, played important roles in attempting to calm the situation and address the underlying issues.

Aftermath and Impact

The Detroit Riot of 1967 resulted in 43 deaths, 1,189 injuries, and over 7,000 arrests, with widespread destruction of property and businesses, particularly in African American-owned establishments, such as Motown Records and Hitsville U.S.A.. The riot led to a significant decline in Detroit's population and economy, with many residents and businesses leaving the city, and General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler reducing their presence in the city. The event also had a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement, with leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks continuing to advocate for Racial equality and Social justice, and the Kerner Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson, issuing a report that highlighted the underlying causes of the riot and recommended policies to address Racial segregation, Police brutality, and Economic inequality.

Investigation and Trials

The investigation into the Detroit Riot of 1967 was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with J. Edgar Hoover and Assistant Director Cartha DeLoach playing key roles, and the Michigan State Police and Detroit Police Department also participating in the investigation. Several trials were held, including the Algiers Motel incident trial, which involved the Detroit Police Department and the Michigan State Police, and the People v. Hayden trial, which involved Recruiting Platoon and United States Army. The trials were widely publicized, with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) monitoring the proceedings, and Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley providing legal representation to some of the defendants.

Legacy and Remembrance

The Detroit Riot of 1967 is remembered as a pivotal event in the history of Detroit and the United States, with Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History exhibiting artifacts and hosting events to commemorate the riot. The event has also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including Middle of the Night and 12th and Clairmount, and has been referenced in music by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. The riot has also been recognized as a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, with leaders such as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Barack Obama referencing the event in their advocacy for Racial equality and Social justice, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture and Library of Congress preserving the history of the riot and its impact on American society. Category:Riots in the United States