The 1967 Detroit riot, also known as the 12th Street riot, was a violent public disorder that turned into a civil disturbance in Detroit, Michigan. It began on a Saturday night in the early morning hours of July 23, 1967. The precipitating event was a police raid of an unlicensed, after-hours bar then known as a blind pig, on the corner of 12th (today Rosa Parks Boulevard) and Clairmount streets on the city’s Near West Side. Police confrontations with patrons and observers on the street evolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in United States history, lasting five days and surpassing the violence and property destruction of Detroit’s 1943 race riot.
Detroit residents stroll the burning streets. Image: Howard Bingham/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesDETROIT, UNITED STATES – JULY 01: Building burning during race riots in the city. (Photo by Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)Detroit police officers confronting African-American people in the streets. Image: Lee BaltermanDETROIT, UNITED STATES – JULY 01: Firemen and civilians starting to clear debris the morning after after race riots rock the city. (Photo by Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES – 1967: Policeman lining up suspects after race riots. (Photo by Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)Detroit street with National Guard and police. Image: Howard Bingham/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesDETROIT, UNITED STATES – JULY 01: Firemen are protected by police (from snipers, etc.) while they battle smoking blaze after race riots rock the city. (Photo by Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)Fire fighters are protected by police from snipers while they battle a smoking blaze. Image: Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPeople walk by a destroyed building. Image: Lee Balterman / Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesDetroit gun store owner and National Guardsman protecting property from looters. Image: Howard Bingham/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images“Soul Brother” written on the windows of an African-American-owned business. Image: Howard Bingham/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesMICHIGAN, UNITED STATES – 1967: Smoldering ruins of middle class black neighborhood, the aftermath of race riots which ravaged city after confrontation between police and African Americans following bust of illegal after hours club. (Photo by Declan Haun/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)National Guardsman on a Detroit street. Image: Howard Bingham/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImagesAerial view of Detroit on fire during the riot. Image: Howard Bingham/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
