The 1967 Race Riots of Detroit, also known as the 12th Street Riots, were among the most violent civil disturbances in United States history. A film by Oscar Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, Detroit examines the riots and one particularly disturbing incident involving the mysterious murder of three Black men at the Algiers Motel.
The riot began in the early hours of July 23, 1967 after police raided an after-hours “blind pig” bar that was hosting a celebration for a pair of soldiers coming home from the Vietnam War. Citizens observing the raid felt that police were abusing their power and causing tension between the groups, thus kicking off the first day of the riots. Before long, looting and city-wide violence became of the order of the day.
Two days later on July 25, the Algiers Motel was the site of another raid by police after reports of armed gunmen near the location. According to conflicting and unconfirmed reports, a young man near the motel was playing with a starter gun. Responding to the call, police entered the motel, a hub for prostitution and other crimes, and may have killed one of the men assuming he was armed when they arrived. (READ MORE)
