Thirty-seven years ago today, a Newark cab driver named John Smith was beaten by police after illegally passing a double-parked police car and then resisting arrest. That set off the Newark riots, which lasted five days, left 26 dead and caused $10 million in property damage.
The riots permanently changed Newark and the neighboring communities, as many of the city’s residents fled to the outlying suburbs.
For more on the riots, go here, here or here.
Thanks to Sue Sadik for reminding us.
Newark Riots 1967
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Some things change, some don’t.
In 1967 the white city administration proposed tearing down acres of residential and local business neighborhoods to build UMDNJ. Today, the black city administration is looking to tear down acres of housing and small buinesses in order to build a sports arena.