When I was five years old, I remember vividly the riots of Detroit back in the summer of 1967. It was televised locally and nationally which started from a police raid of an illegal bar that opened up.
The statistics of the summer long riots ended up 43 deaths, over 1000 injured and over 7000 arrests. This occurred in the short period of time from July 23-July 27.
On the island community which I was living on received a verified threat which the people who were going to destroy the island homes and businesses in the summer. The caller made the mistake of telling the island township police of when they were supposed to be crossing one of the bridges from the mainland to the island. The chosen bridge was/is privately owned so authorities asked the owners to open the bridge as if a freighter was passing through for a few hours which they did.
The rioters couldn’t cross with their vehicles and it’s too dangerous to swim with the current of the Detroit River.
Being born premature and being five years old, the situation put me medically at risk as well as others who might need urgent medical care so the island government leaders found a helicopter from the Naval AFB to assist. The base was located on the south end to protect against our Canadian border at one time.
Looking back in my childhood, the race riots of Detroit was my first experience of learning that the world is not always a kind place and destruction to others property plus, more importantly, putting someone else in danger is not a way to solve problems. With that being said, the rioters stated that their issues weren’t being taken seriously and was left no choice but to destroy the City of their home.
Since then, the City of Detroit along with its neighborhood leaders have been in communication and making changes to ensure a better quality of life for all residents of the city.
Additionally, Marvin Gaye who recorded with Motown Records in Detroit wrote and sang the song about the riots, “What’s Going On?,” which became a hit for him
In Love and Peace,
Leslie Elizabeth David.
The Magnificent Modern Mature Woman 