NCJ Number
77673
Date Published
1971
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Based on the book, 'The Riot Makers,' written by Eugene Methvin, this film traces the history of civil disturbance, with attention to those who manipulate violence and destruction, from the Roman period through civil unrest of 1964-68 in the United States.
Abstract
The film illustrates how such riot makers as Vladimir Lenin, who stated that mass movements must be artificially created, influenced agitators during the 1960's. It terms modern day activists 'leninoids' or graduates in social demolition and argues that Rennie Davis, Abbie Hoffman, Tom Hayden, H. Rap Brown, and other agitators have been studying the tactics of Lenin and Hitler. The tactics of these 1960's agitators included targeting specific groups for recruitment in urban areas (the poor) and on college campuses, where their aim was to monopolize student expression, create a climate of hostility, and incite crowds to riot. The film depicts the manipulation of urban discontent in Newark, N.J., and other civil disturbances of the 1960's by using actual footage made by the news media and other sources. The film is designed to aid law enforcement personnel who are largely unfamiliar with the phenomena of violent social unrest.