Читать книгу Freedom Facts and Firsts - Jessie Carney Smith - Страница 91

African Americans in the city had little political representation in the mid-1960s, despite being over half of the total population, and conditions were similar to those in other large urban areas. High crime and unemployment rates, political corruption, substandard housing, and police brutality led to increased community activism through organizations such as the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE), the Newark Coordination Council (NCC), and the Committee for a United Newark (CUN), the last formed in 1966 by writer and activist Amiri Baraka. In 1967 Baraka convened the first National Conference on Black Power in Newark, but still no meaningful progress had been made in addressing the city’s problems. Tension and frustration exploded on July 12 after an incident of police brutality directed toward John Smith, an African American cab driver. Smith was arrested and severely beaten by police officers, but was taken to a hospital after civil rights leaders came to the police precinct. Rumors spread that Smith had died in police custody, leading to the outbreak.

The violence continued until July 17 and was described as “one of the bloodiest and most devastating racial insurrections in recent U.S. history.” Between 23 and 26 people were reported killed during the riot, along with an estimated $10 million in property damage. Both the New Jersey State Police and the National Guard were called in to restore order, but problems and violence continued with another riot after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Fletcher F. Moon