Causes Of Detroit Rebellion – Michigan 1967

The Detroit rebellion that took place in Michigan in 1967 was considered as one of the most violent urban riots in the 20th century. Police brutality was the main cause of Detroit rebellion. This was influenced by certain underlying conditions including rising black employment and segregated schools and housing. On July 22, 1967, an unlicensed bar called “blind pig,” was raided by the Detroit Police Vice Squad officers. The “blind pig” is located on the corner of Clairmount Avenue and 12 Street in the city’s neighborhood. At the time of the raid, a party was ongoing to commemorate the comeback of two black servicemen from Vietnam. The police officers expected to find a few people at the party, but they managed to arrest everyone in the party which totaled up to 80 people (Allen, 1969).

As the police officers were transporting these people from the bar, a group of 200 people gathered nearby feeling agitated that the police officers used excessive force when conducting the raid. An empty bottle and a waste basket were thrown into the rear side and front side of the police car respectively. Twenty minutes later, an additional group of police officers arrived at the 12th Street to curb the growing riot. People continued to loot stores and to smash windows of buildings located along 12 Street. The violence continued for close to five days as the number of injuries continued. During the five days of violence and fights, more blacks than whites were reported dead, approximately 1,200 people were injured, and more than 7,000 people were arrested. Several stored were looted and huge property damaged. The Detroit rebellion stands out as the largest urban riots of the 1960s (Stephan and Abigail, 1997).

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