The 1967 Buffalo riot was one of 159
race riots that swept cities in the United States during the "
Long Hot Summer of 1967". This riot occurred on the East Side of
Buffalo, New York, from June 26 to July 1, 1967. On the afternoon of June 27, 1967, small groups of
African American teenagers cruised the neighborhood of William Street and Jefferson Avenue breaking car and store windows. By night nearly 200 riot-protected police were summoned, and a violent encounter ensued.
["The Circle Association's African American History of Western New York State, 1935 to 1970"](_blank)
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Many African Americans, three policemen and one fire fighter were injured. Although the riot dispersed that night, it began again the next afternoon with fires set, cars over-turned, and stores looted, many of them having the words "soul brother" written on them. This time 400 police were summoned. Forty black people were injured, nearly half from bullet wounds.
by the Staff of the Store Front Education CentersJackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line ...
, then serving as Governor Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979), sometimes referred to by his nickname Rocky, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. A member of t ...
's Special Assistant for Urban Affairs, met with Mayor Frank Sedita about the riots. It was the first move by the Governor to intervene in the violence.["Robinson Sent to Buffalo's Riot District,"](_blank)
by the Associated Press, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', July 1, 1967.
On November 10, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Buffalo and in a speech titled "The Future of Integration" at Kleinhans Music Hall
Kleinhans Music Hall is a concert venue located on Symphony Circle in Buffalo, New York. The hall "is renowned for its acoustical excellence and graceful architecture." Kleinhans is currently the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, a regu ...
before about 2,500 persons sponsored by the Graduate Student Association at the University at Buffalo proclaimed: "We are moving toward the day when we will judge a man by his character and ability instead of by the color of his skin."["Massive Action Urged: King Says Negro In Economic Trap,"](_blank)
by Richard E. Baldwin, ''Buffalo Courier-Express'', November 10, 1967.[''Race, Neighborhoods, and Community Power: Buffalo Politics, 1934-1997'', by Neil Kraus, Published 2000, SUNY Press, Buffalo (N.Y.)]Google books reference
Walter C. Rucker, James N. Upton, ''Encyclopedia of American race riots'' (Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press, 2006) p. 83-84.
See also
*
List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
References
External links
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at BuffaloHistoricfilms.com riot footage
{{DEFAULTSORT:1967 Buffalo Riot
African-American riots in the United States
1967 riots
1967 in New York (state)
African-American history in Buffalo, New York
Riots and civil disorder in New York (state)
20th century in Buffalo, New York
June 1967 events in the United States
July 1967 events in the United States
Long, hot summer of 1967