User:Sjlowe525/sandbox

During the summer of 1967, 159 race-related riots broke out in the United States. Particularly violent situations erupted in Detroit, Michigan and Newark, New Jersey. On July 23 alone, eleven cases of riots or disturbances broke out. (fix)

South Bend experienced a racially-charged disturbance over the course of three days on in late July, 1967.

South Bend city administrators and police officials were aware of the violence erupting in other cities, including cities as close as Detroit, during the month of July, 1967. On the evening of July 23, Jesse Middlebrook, an African-American youth, attempted to fix a flat tire at a gas station located on West Washington Street. A fight erupted between Middlebrook and white station attendants. Middlebrook was beaten by six white attendants before a South Bend police officer arrived at the scene. The officer pushed Middlebrook to the ground and arrested him but released his white assailants. Although threats of violence were made by groups of black youths in response to the apparent injustice of the South Bend Police, no other incidences occurred.

Two days later, on July 25 at 9:30 in the evening,, a group of about 40 young men gathered near Harrison School at 3302 West Washington Avenue, and began throwing fire bombs, hitting police vehicles, breaking windows, and triggering false fire alarms. Fire trucks responding to the alarms were hit with stones from the crowd. Nearby, at the intersection of Washington and Walnut Street, youths blocked traffic and threw stones at stopped drivers. The windows of stores along Washington avenue were smashed, encouraging looting of a drug store on a nearby corner. The gas station on Western where Middlebrook was beaten and arrested was hit by a Molotov cocktail causing minor damage to the building. Sandock's Department Store and Fujawa's Furniture stores were hit by firebombs.

The rumors of violence encouraged others to arrive at the scene. After midnight, the police barricaded the streets in an attempt to disperse the crowds and avert more damage to businesses. According to reports, the police charged the crowd and demanded they disperse. These tactics worked to some degree as many fled the area. But those who remained berated the officers and threw rocks and bricks. The Polish War Veterans headquarters was firebombed in the early morning, causing extensive damage to the building. Police dogs were called on to the scene, encouraging the remaining crowd to leave the area.

Rocks, bricks, and sticks were tossed at the helmeted and shotgun-carrying police as they arrived. A cry for "BlackPower" were heard through the crowd. As the police attempted to disperse the crowd, rocks were thrown at them, and cursing was reportedly used by both sides. Captain Stachowitz charged the crowd to disperse,

onthreeseparateoccasions. InresponsetohisordermanyNegroesdispersedand left the scene while a small, belligerent and vocal group of about thirty remained and began shuffling back towards the Center. The police, surrounding the group, formedatypeofarcforcingthegrouptotakerefugeinsidethebuilding. Itwas hoped by the police that by moving the group within the building those loitering in the area could be sent away first and then the group inside could be more readily dispersed.

Fires caused most of the damage on night of July 25, and these fires burned until early the next morning.

Response by City officials and their attempt to stifle the riot, deny, reject the claims, etc.

How it was reported by SBT, and Reformer (how are they compared and contrasted?) and how does Neagu's Oral History compare? Does he give more information?

Response by Human Rights Commission--did they pick sides or help to end the disturbance.

youth Response to the responses ^

Why was it only called a disturbance?

Kerner Commission Report weigh-in and fed gov response. Was there any aid or other invention by fed gov? What response did that receive?

How this changed the city, how it affected officials and residents

Tie in to 1968 riot following MLK"s death?

What is the racial "temperature" in the city after this occurrence?

The youths informed the president of the Human Rights Commission of South Bend of the planned violence. (no more about him in my paper. find out more about his involvement)

The United States Gov??? commissioned a report to investigate the origins, nature, and severity of racially-driven riots that were occurring across the country over a short time. The Kerner Commission report (cite and add more) noted that "blacks acted against he local symbols of white American society, authority, and property in Negro neighborhoods--rather against white persons. (cite) Police brutality was a reported instigator in the Detroit and Newark riots.