The 1967 Newark Riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in the city of Newark, New Jersey between July 12 and July 17, 1967. In the period leading up to the riots, several factors led local African-American residents to feel powerless and disenfranchised. In particular, they had been largely excluded from political representation and often suffered police brutality. Furthermore, unemployment, poverty, and concerns about low-quality housing contributed to the tinder-box. Civil disorder is a broad term that is typically used by law enforcement to describe one or more forms of disturbance caused by a group of people. ... Nickname: Map of Newark in Essex County County Essex Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836 Government  - Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area [1]  - City 67. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday and the summer of 1967 was known as The Summer of Peace and Love (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... David Kirkwood on the ground after being struck by police batons Police brutality is a term used to describe the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers and other law enforcement officers. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows what he found. ... Houses in Fishpool Street, St Albans, England For other meanings of the word house, see House (disambiguation). ...

According to a Rutgers University study on the riot, blacks had been disenfranchised in Newark despite the fact that Newark became one of the first majority black major cities in America alongside Washington D.C. Italian-American mayor Hugh Addonizio (who was also the last non-black mayor of Newark) failed to incorporate blacks in various civil leadership positions and to help blacks get better employment opportunities. The police department was dominated by Italian American and Irish American officers who would routinely stop and attack blacks with or without provocation. Despite being one of the first cities in America to hire African American police officers, the department's current demographics did not adequately match the city's demographics leading to unrest between blacks and the police department. According to a legal essay, only 150 of the 1500 police officers (10 percent) were African American, while the city was over 50 percent African American. Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Hugh Joseph Addonizio (1914 - 1981) was a U.S. political figure. ... An Italian-American is an American of Italian descent either born in America or someone who has immigrated. ... Irish population density in the United States, 1872. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

This unrest came to a head when a black cab driver named John Smith was arrested for illegally passing a double-parked police car and allegedly beaten by police who accused him of resisting arrest. A crowd gathered outside the police station where he was detained, and a rumor was started that he had been killed while in police custody. (Actually he had been moved to a local hospital.) Alternative meaning: taxicab geometry. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

This set off six days of riots, looting, violence, and destruction — ultimately leaving 26 people dead, 725 people injured, and close to 1,500 arrested. Property damage exceeded $10 million. Categories: Stub | Riots ... Looting (which derives via the Hindi lut from Sanskrit lung, to rob), sacking, plundering, or pillaging is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe or riot, such as during war,[1] natural disaster,[2] or rioting. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In an effort to contain the riots, every evening at 6 p.m. the Bridge Street and Jackson Street Bridges, both of which span the Passaic River between Newark and Harrison, were closed until the next morning. The Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey The Passaic River is a tributary of Newark Bay, approximately 80 mi (129 km long), in northern New Jersey in the United States. ... Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. ...

The 1967 Plainfield riots occurred during the same period in Plainfield, New Jersey, a town about 18 miles southwest of Newark. The Plainfield Riot was the second most violent disturbance to occur in New Jersey during the summer of 1967, only the major rioting (1967 Newark riots) in Newark, New Jersey, surpassed it. ... Map of Plainfield in Union County Plainfield is a City in Union County, New Jersey, United States. ...

The riots were depicted in the Philip Roth novel American Pastoral. Philip Milton Roth (born March 19, 1933, Newark, New Jersey) is an American novelist. ... American Pastoral is a Philip Roth novel concerning Seymour Swede Levov, an all-around good guy whose life is ruined by the indigenous American berzerk. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 and was included in All-TIME 100 Greatest Novels. ...

Impact

The riots are often cited as a major factor in the decline of Newark and its neighboring communities, as in the aftermath the population of Newark dropped precipitously. Much of the city's remaining white population left. During this same time, the population of many suburban communities in northern New Jersey expanded rapidly. Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ...

While Newark has progressed since 1967, unfortunately many of the same problems that contributed to the violence and destruction in 1967 continue to plague New Jersey's largest city; unemployment, poverty, and elevated crime rates are still major problems.

See also

• Race riot

A race riot or racial riot is an outbreak of violent civil unrest in which race is a key factor. ...

External links

• Rutgers information site on riots
• Student essay on riots (New Jersey Bar Association)
• PBS "Revolution '67"
• WNET A Walk Through Newark, history on riots