Long, hot summer of 1967
Introduction The '''long, hot summer of 1967''' refers to the more than 150 race riots that erupted across the United States in the summer of 1967.In June there were riots in Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Buffalo, and Tampa. In July there were riots in Birmingham, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Newark, New Britain, New York City, Plainfield, Rochester, and Toledo.The most destructive riots of the summer took place in July, in Detroit and Newark; many contemporary newspaper headlines described them as "battles". As a result of the rioting in the summer of 1967 and the preceding two years, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Kerner Commission to investigate the rioting and urban issues of Black Americans.
History A history of institutionalized unemployment, abusive policing, and poor housing was already present in certain areas of the United States. Riots began to flare up across the country but especially during the summer months. With rioting in urban areas across the country, and the Summer of Love occurring in hippie communities, Americans were witnessing US troop movements in the Vietnam War shown on the nightly television news. At the end of July, President Lyndon B. Johnson set up the Kerner Commission to investigate the riots; in 1968 it released a report blaming pervasive societal inequalities in American ghettos for the riots. By September 1967, 83 people were dead, thousands were injured, tens of millions of dollars worth of property had been destroyed and entire neighborhoods had been burned.
Reactions It is in the context of having been through the "long, hot, summer" that in December 1967, Miami police chief Walter E. Headley uttered the now-infamous phrase, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts", after which Frank Rizzo, Richard Daley and George Wallace also spoke out in favor of a hardline approach towards looters and rioters. The Republicans, although a minority party in the House of Representatives, were split over how to respond to the rioting, despite common historiographical perceptions which depict them as being entirely in favor of a "law and order" styled approach.In early July 1967, the Justice Department met with local media to ask for "restraint in reporting". In December of the same year, ''The New York Times'' asked a psychologist about "deterrents" and was told that the riots would continue.=== Polling ===In a March 1968 Harris poll reported in ''The Washington Post'', 37% of Americans agreed with the Kerner Commission's report that the 1967 race riots were brought on mainly by inequalities; 49% disagreed. A majority of whites (53%) rejected the idea, with just 35% agreeing. In contrast, 58% of blacks supported it, and only 17% disagreed.=== Political response ===Throughout the summer that year, both the Republican and Democratic parties were split on how to handle the riots. In both parties two factions existed: one that advocated for law and order, and another that supported an approach based on social justice. Democrats held the majority of seats in both Houses of Congress while the Republicans held the minority. Despite common historiographical perceptions that depict the Republicans as being entirely in favor of a "law and order" styled approach to the riots, there was division in the party. President Johnson's popularity levels decreased that summer because of the riots.During July, conservatives in the Republican Party dominated its response to the riots. Republicans believed this would be an opportunity to attack President Johnson and his War on Poverty initiative. Many Republicans would end up blaming Johnson for what happened that summer and many supported cutting back on programs that benefited urban areas. In the Senate, Republicans took a largely different approach that month than those who were in the House with most Republican Senators supporting Johnson's anti urban poverty programs.In the 1968 presidential primaries, the two factions of law and order along with social justice would clash in the Republican Party. Ronald Reagan would orientate himself as a law and order candidate, Nelson Rockefeller siding with the justice faction and Richard Nixon catering to both factions. Nixon would end up emerging victorious. Nixon called to control crime, scale back the War on Poverty and encourage black capitalism as a way to "restore urban areas".On August 10, the Kerner Commission would recommend in a letter to President Johnson that they should substantially and immediately increase the amount of African Americans serving in the National Guard and Air National Guard. The reason being they thought with more African-Americans serving in the National Guard it could be a more effective force at preventing civil disorder.
List of riots Some of the riots include: Location  Date  Deaths  Injured  Arrested  Notes Omaha, NE  1.April 1  0    21  200 black youths damaged police cars and looted stores. Nashville, TN  2.April 8 - 10  0  14+  100  Black college students from Tennessee State University rioted for 3 consecutive nights along Jefferson Street after Stokely Carmichael was denied to speak at the college campus. Louisville, KY  3.April 11 - Mid-June  0    700  Black demonstrators protesting for open housing during segregation was harassed by white counter-protesters who threw rocks and bottles. During a visit by Martin Luther King Jr., 2,500 National Guardsmen protected the Kentucky Derby due to the possibility of a race riot. Cleveland, OH  4.April 16  0      Black youths looted stores in Hough in Cleveland, which was also the location of previous rioting in 1966.Massillon, OH  5.April 17  0    17  A fight broke out between black and white teenagers resulting in 17 arrests. Wichita, KS  6.May 2 - 3  0      Black high school students fought against white students. Jackson, MS  7.May 12  1  Several    Jackson State University student, Benjamin Brown was killed by 2 stray shotgun blasts by police into a crowd which was throwing rocks and bottles. National Guardsmen restored order after two nights of rioting near Jackson State University. San Francisco, CA  8.May 14 - 15  0  14+  29+  500 black youths rioted at the amusement park Playland, which spilled out into Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury. Houston, TX  9.May 17  1     500  Rookie police officer, Louis Kuba, was killed during unrest on predominately-black college campus. Nearly 500 students were arrested. Vallejo, CA  10.May 21  0      Black rioters stoned cars and snipers fought police after a drag race was broken up. Chicago, IL  11.May 21  0  10  30  10 people, including 3 police officers were injured and 30 were arrested in a melee during a memorial service for Malcolm X. Chicago, IL  12.May 30  0    37  37 were arrested after a race-related clash. Boston, MA  13.June 2 - 5  0  100  73  A group of female welfare recipients started a sit-in at the Grove Hall Welfare Office at 515 Blue Hill Ave, resulting in a police response that angered the black population of Boston. The rioting spilled out along Blue Hill Ave for 4 days. The damage was estimated to be about 2 million in 1967 dollars (). The National Guard restored order soon afterwards. Clearwater, FL  14.June 3  0    10  10 people were arrested after Black rioters attacked police for trying to break up a fight between 2 black men. Tampa, FL  15.June 11 - 14  2    100+  After police shot black man, Martin Chambers, after he and 2 others robbed a photo warehouse, rioting spread throughout Tampa for 4 days. As a result, a black man and a white police officer were killed, more than 100 people were arrested, and damage was reported at 2 million dollars in 1967 dollars (). Prattville, AL  16.June 11  0  4  10  The National Guard sent in after Black snipers opened fire on the police following the arrest of Stokely Carmichael. Cincinnati, OH  17.June 12 - 19  1  63  404  In Avondale, black man Posteal Laskey Jr. was convicted as the Cincinnati Strangler. Protesters of the verdict turned violent and rioting spread throughout Reading Road, Burnett Avenue, and eventually Bond Hill, Winton Terrace, Walnut Hills, Corryville, Clifton, West End, and Downtown. As a result, 1 person was dead, 63 were injured, and 404 were arrested, and damages totaled 3 million dollars (). It took 1000 National Guardsmen to quell the unrest. Montgomery, AL  18.June 12  0      National Guardsmen turned back black protesters against the jailing of Stokely Carmichael in nearby Prattville, who were marching on the State Capitol. Los Angeles, CA  19.June 13  0      Stones and bottles were thrown at firemen in and near the Watts area (which was also the scene of a massive riot in 1965) while attempting to put out a fire that destroyed a small factory. Philadelphia, PA  20.June 13  0  4+  25  25 people were arrested and 4 policemen hurt after rocks and bottles were thrown around a 12-block area due to a dispute over a rug. Maywood, IL  21.June 14  0      Young black men and women rioted while demanding a swimming pool in a historically neglected area. Dayton, OH  22.June 14 - 17  0      Black gangs started smashing windows, setting fires, and looting after a speech by H. Rap Brown, head of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Middletown, OH  23.June 14  0    4  Four black youths were arrested after youths threw rocks at cars, stores, and homes. Lansing, MI  24.June 16  0  3  2  Three people were injured and two people were arrested as black gangs hurled rocks and bottles at police. Atlanta, GA  25.June 17 - 20  1  22  13  Four days of disorder began after a fight ensued between a black male and a black security guard who would not let him in the Flamingo Grill located at the Dixie Hills Shopping Center. Roanoke, VA  26.June 23  0  Several  9  A near-riot in a predominately black business neighborhood injured several and nine were arrested. Buffalo, NY  27.June 26 - July 1  0  100  200  Groups of black teenagers started looting along William Street and Jefferson Avenue. While it was broken up that night, on the next day, arson, looting, and vandalism broke out. About 100 people were injured and 200 were arrested. Damage was estimated at $250,000 (). Cincinnati, OH  28.July 3 - 5  0      One of 3 race-related riots that took place in 1967 in Cincinnati. Los Angeles, CA  29.July 6  0      More rock and bottle throwing erupted in Watts. Des Moines, IA  30.July 9 - 10  0    6  Black gangs threw rocks and bottles resulting in six arrested. Kansas City, MO  31.July 9  0  1  11  1 was injured and 11 were arrested after tear gas was dispersed on black looters who broke windows and attacked police cars. Waterloo, IA  32.July 9 - 10  0  5    5 were injured in two nights of minor disturbances where African-Americans stoned passing cars and looted stores. Newark, NJ  33.July 12 - 16  26  727  1465  26 were killed, 727 were injured, and 1,465 were arrested in Newark after false rumors of a black man being killed by police. In an attempt to contain the violence, the bridges along the Passaic River were closed every night and nearly 8,000 state police and National Guardsmen were deployed in Newark. Plainfield, NJ  34.July 14 - 16   1    150  Spillover from Newark riots. In Plainfield, black rioters looted 90 stores and kicked/shot a white policeman to death. After an arms factory was broken into nearby Middlesex, New Jersey, National Guardsmen were also deployed in Plainfield. Irvington, NJ  35.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Orange, NJ  36.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. East Orange, NJ  37.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Montclair, NJ  38.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Asbury Park, NJ  39.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. New Brunswick, NJ  40.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Elizabeth, NJ  41.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Paterson, NJ  42.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. Jersey City, NJ  43.~July 14  0      Spillover from Newark riots. In Jersey City, the violence ended quickly after the mayor took a tough stand. Hartford, CT  44.July 14  0  11+  20  After a black teenager was arrested for swearing at a waitress, black gangs started rioting by throwing bricks and firebombs, resulting in 11 policemen being injured and 20 arrested. Erie, PA  45.July 14  0      One of 3 outbursts of arson and brick-throwing in Erie. Des Moines, IA  46.July 16  0      Recurring violence in Des Moines. Fresno, CA  47.July 16  0  1    An anti-poverty worker was wounded by a gunfight. Firebombing caused 23 fires. Greenwood, NC  48.July 17  0      Black and white rioters fought with rocks after five whites were charged with terrorizing a black minister in his home. Cairo, IL  49.July 17 - 21  0      After the jailhouse suicide of Robert Hunt, 9 firebombings took place and threats of violence were sent. Erie, PA  50.July 18  0      One of 3 outbursts of arson and brick-throwing in Erie. Nyack, NY  51.July 19  0    18  Violence spread from Newark to New York when dozens of black youths ran through Nyack, taunting police, and breaking the windows of homes and businesses. Police marched in a phalanx through the streets to break up bands of black marauders. Minneapolis, MN  52.July 19 - 24  0  24  36  After an alleged plot set up by Black Panther Party leader, Stokely Carmichael or/and the shooting of a black shoplifter by a Jewish business owner, violence erupted along Plymouth Avenue. 600 National Guardsmen were deployed to quell the outbreak of violence. Total damage was about 4.2 million dollars (). Durham, NC  53.July 19  0  3     National Guardsmen watched over predominately black protesters. Two blacks were injured by gunshot by a passing car, windows were broken, and bricks were tossed at motorists by black and white rioters. Lakeland, FL  54.July 20  0      Black youths threw fire bombs into white-owned grocery stores. Bridgeton, NJ  55.July 21  0      Windows were broken by black rioters following the arrest of a black man. Hattiesburg, MS  56.July 22  0    27  27 black protesters were arrested for disturbing the peace in a boycott of stores. Wadesboro, NC  57.July 22  0  1+    After a black person was shot and run over by a car, black rioters went on a rock-throwing rampage. Youngstown, OH  58.July 22  0      Violence involving blacks and whites resulted in 2 buildings being blown up by dynamite. Police and firemen were harassed by rioters. Englewood, NJ  59.July 22 - 24  0      3 nights of violence erupted in Englewood. At one point, 100 policemen were pinned down by snipers. Houston, TX  60.July 23  0      Blacks gangs roamed through the streets and set three fires with fire bombs. Detroit, MI  61.July 23 - 28  43  1189  7231  Nearly 1,200 people were injured and over 7,200 people arrested, many of them being the estimated 10,000 rioters who ravaged the city. The casualties and damages were the highest since the New York City draft riots or the Tulsa race massacre depending on what sources were compared. 2,509 buildings reported looting or damage while 412 buildings were burnt down or damaged enough that they had to be torn down. While news reports put costs from damage in the hundreds of millions, investigations have put estimates of property damage costs at 40 () to 45 million (). Grand Rapids, MI  62.July 23 - 25  0  44  350  Spillover from Detroit riot. The riot area was bounded by Wealthy Street on the north, Division Avenue on the west, Lafayette Avenue on the east, and Hall Street on the south. National Guardsmen and State police were deployed as arson and looting went on for several days. Pontiac, MI  63.~July 23  2    25  Spillover from Detroit riot. Two blacks were killed, one by a State legislator protecting his store. 25 rioters were arrested, 40 fires were set, and gun shops were looted. Flint, MI  64.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. Kalamazoo, MI  65.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. Mount Clemens, MI  66.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. Muskegon, MI  67.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. Benton Harbor, MI  68.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. Albion, MI  69.~July 23  0      Spillover from Detroit riot. New York City, NY  70.July 23 - 30  4  29+  32+  Following the shooting of a Puerto Rican by a police officer, unrest erupted in Spanish Harlem along Third Ave between 109th and 126th Streets, South Bronx, and Bedford–Stuyvesant, resulting in the deaths of 4 Puerto Ricans. Toledo, OH  71.July 23 - 25  0  50+  180  Inspired by the Detroit riots, groups of black youths started looting stores. The rampage caused the National Guard to be deployed with orders to shoot to kill. Birmingham, AL  72.July 23  0  11  70+  National Guardsmen helped police quell rioting. 11 were injured and more than 70 rioters were arrested. New Britain, CT  73.July 23  0      Police sealed in a black neighborhood after an attack on a white motorist. Rochester, NY  74.July 23 - 24  2      Violence erupted as white and black gangs raided each other's neighborhood, resulting in $60,000 damage () and 2 blacks killed. Tucson, AZ  75.July 23 - 24  0      Black rioters fought police for two nights in Tucson. Lima, OH  76.July 23  0    21  Police arrested 21 black youths after being caught breaking the windows of stores. Waukegan, IL  77.July 23 - 25  0      Police from neighboring cities came to Waukegan to help quell two days of vandalism. Cambridge, MD  78.July 24  0      After a police officer's shotgun was fired without warning, a pellet ricocheted and hit SNCC leader "Rap" Brown. National Guardsmen were sent in after night of rioting and shooting in which a 17 buildings were destroyed by fire. Saginaw, MI  79.July 26  0  7  50  Spillover from Detroit riot. Phoenix, AZ  80.July 26  0      2 days after the rioting in Tucson ended, it erupted again in Phoenix. Mount Vernon, NY  81.July 26  0      Looting erupted around South Seventh Avenue and West Third Street and a state of emergency was declared by mayor Joseph P. Vaccarella. South Bend, IN  82.July 26  0      1000 National Guardsmen was sent into South Bend after roving black gangs in the western section of the city caused unrest. Marin City, CA  83.July 26  0  3    Black rioters set fires and shot at firemen. Three people were wounded during the unrest. Sacramento, CA  84.July 26 - 27  0      Stores were vandalized and hit by arson. A school was also hit by arson. San Francisco, CA  85.July 27 - 28  0      Two nights of hit-and-run violence of blacks shooting at white youths. Cincinnati, OH  86.July 27  0      One of 3 race-related riots that took took place in 1967 in Cincinnati. Philadelphia, PA  87.July 27  0      The mayor declared a state of "limited emergency" after vandalism erupted in Philadelphia. Alton, IL  88.July 27  0      Supermarkets were vandalized as a cab driver was wounded and two police cars were hit by buckshot by a black gang. New Rochelle, NY  89.July 27  0      Black youths returning from a community-action program threw rocks and broke 3 store windows. Lorain, OH  90.July 27  0      National Guardsmen were sent in to quell vandalism and arson. Albany, NY  91.July 27  0      Vandalism spreads to upstate New York. Poughkeepsie, NY  92.July 27  0      Vandalism spreads to upstate New York. Peekskill, NY  93.July 27  0      Vandalism spreads to upstate New York. East St. Louis, IL  94.July 27 - 28  0    23  23 people were arrested after two nights of window-smashing and arson. Passaic, NJ  95.July 27  0      Vandalism spreads through-out the Tri-State area. Waterbury, CT  96.July 27  0  11+    At least 11 people were injured and 2 were shot in an outburst of rock-throwing and looting. Police used tear gas to quell the unrest. Seattle, WA  97.July 27  0      Vandals and rioters set at least one fire and tossed rocks and bottles. Memphis, TN  98.July 27  0      Violence subsided quickly after the National Guard was deployed in Memphis. Springfield, OH  99.July 27  0    5  Five people were arrested after a wave of rock-throwing and arson. New Castle, PA  100.July 28 - 30  0      Roving bands of black teen-agers threw fire bombs, smashed windows with rocks. Pasadena, CA  101.Late July  0      Violence hit suburbs of Los Angeles in late July, resulting in the police using a new aerosol tear-gas gun called the Chemical Mace. Long Beach, CA  102.Late July  0      Violence hit suburbs of Los Angeles in late July, resulting in the police using a new aerosol tear-gas gun called the Chemical Mace. Wilmington, DE  103.July 28 - 29  0  13  325  City council passed riot-control measures as black gangs rampaged Wilmington. Newburgh, NY  104.July 29  0    A Neo-Nazi rally resulted in fighting between black rioters and the National Renaissance Party, store windows broken, police cars broken, and 30 blacks arrested. Police were also helped in controlling crowd by using the Chemical Mace. Elgin, IL  105.July 29  0    Police sealed off five blocks of downtown Elgin after black gangs began setting fires, arson, and throwing bricks and bottles. Rockford, IL  106.July 29 - 30  0  11  44  Two nights of rioting resulted in 11 injuries and 44 arrests. Portland, OR 107.July 30  0   115  A civil rights protest grew violent after a member of the Black Panther Party did not show up. National Guard was put on alert as the rioters roamed through 30 square blocks of the city throwing rocks and smashing store windows. Rivera Beach, FL 108.July 30 - 31  0   45  After a black man was arrested for a fight at a bar, rumors spread that a black man was beaten by police, resulting in 2 days of rioting. Police fired tear gas to break up a rampage of black rioters, while National Guardsmen were called up, but not used. East Palo Alto, CA  109.July 30 - 31  0    Rocks and bottles were thrown until a patrol of black volunteers calmed the situation. Milwaukee, WI 110.July 30 - August 3  4  100  1740  After police broke up a fight between 2 black women, objects were thrown at them and grew into 5 days of rioting, resulting in 4 dead, 100 injured, and 1740 arrested. Wichita, KS  111.July 31  0    Black rioters fire-bombed two stores and stoned police and motorists. Erie, PA  112.July 31  0    One of 3 outbursts of arson and brick-throwing in Erie. West Palm Beach, FL  113.July 31  0   46  Tear gas was used to break up a mob of approximately 400 blacks. A fire that led to damages of about $350,000 () led to the arrest of 46 people under Florida's new tough antiriot law. Denver, CO  114.July 31  0   12  A dozen youths were arrested after a mob of about 100 blacks bombarded police with rocks and bottles after breaking shop windows. Providence, RI  115.July 31 - August 1  0  23  14  A 35-block area in the southern, predominately black, area of Providence were sealed after black youths went on a rampage. Riot squads battled snipers and routed rival gangs of whites and Negroes in two days of violence.San Bernardino, CA116.July 31 - August 40267Violence hit suburbs of Los Angeles in late July, resulting in the police using a new aerosol tear-gas gun called the Chemical Mace. Unrest began after a crowd of 300 people at a house party were blocking the street which the police broke up. Washington D.C.  117.August 1  0      The nation's capital appeared heading for a riot when bands of black youths went on a midnight rampage, smashing dozens of store windows along H Street NE and setting a dozen small fire safter a rock concert at the old Washington Coliseum. Police, moving in quickly but quietly, restored order before dawn. Wyandanch, NY  118.August 1 -  0      In business districts of Wyandanch, smashed windows of 3 stores, overturned 2 cars, hurled stones at police, set fires to the auditorium of the (now named) Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School on Mount Avenue, the Wyandanch VFW Hall, and the ambulance garage at South 20th Street and Straight Path throughout several nights of violence. Sandusky, OH  119.August 2  0    Black teenagers smashed windows and arsoned two shopping centers after a black home was fire-bombed and several other black homes vandalized by four whites.Peoria, IL120 August 2 - 3047Police sealed off an open housing project for blacks after snipers fired at police directing traffic around a fire started by a fire bomb. Started after arsonists had set a grocery store on fire. Wichita, KS  121.August 4   0      Black protesters marching on police station and courthouse renewed racial violence in Wichita.Houston, TX122.August 15 - 1706Unrest began in Houston after a white male service station attendant shot a black male in an attempted robbery. Snipping and vandalism were reported to have happened.Syracuse, NY123.August 16 - 200186Syracuse would see civil unrest after a case of police brutality toward an African American man on August 15.Property damages were estimated to be $66,000 ().New Haven, CT124.August 19 - 2303679Rioting began in New Haven after a Puerto Rican man had approached a restaurant owner with a knife and the restaurant owner shot him. 200 state troopers were called in as reinforcements for the riots and ended up lasting for four days. Most arrests occurred for violating a curfew that lasted for several days. Interference with firefighting was reported and so were 90 cases of arson. About $149,000 () in property damage was caused.
See also * United States racial unrest (2020–present)* Ferguson unrest* George Floyd protests* King assassination riots* List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States* Red Summer
References ===Bibliography===* *
Further reading * Michael Omi and Howard Winant, ''Racial formation in the United States: from the 1960s to the 1990s'' (1994)* Walter C. Rucker and James N. Upton, eds. ''Encyclopedia of American Race Riots'' (2007) 930 pages –