NCJ Number
767
Date Published
1969
Length
100 pages
Annotation
THE 1968 GUN BATTLE BETWEEN CLEVELAND POLICE AND BLACK SNIPERS, THE RIOTING AND ARSON WHICH FOLLOWED, AND THE METHODS WHICH WERE USED TO RESTORE ORDER.
Abstract
THIS RESEARCH EFFORT, A STAFF REPORT TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE, DOCUMENTS THE DETAILS OF THE SHOOTOUT AND THE EVENTS WHICH IT PRECIPITATED. SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND FIFTEEN OTHERS WERE WOUNDED IN THE EXCHANGE OF FIRE BETWEEN THE SMALL, WELL ARMED GROUP OF BLACK EXTREMISTS, AND CITY POLICE. THE RESEARCH LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A SPONTANEOUS ACTION BY A GROUP WHO WERE ARMED AND EMOTIONALLY PREPARED TO DO VIOLENCE, RATHER THAN A PLANNED AMBUSH OR PART OF AN INTERCITY CONSPIRACY. THE INCIDENT IS RELATED TO OTHER OUTBREAKS OF RACIAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, AND SPECIAL ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT IT BEGAN AS VIOLENCE AIMED AT PERSONAL INJURY BEFORE FALLING INTO THE ESTABLISHED PATTERN OF BLACKS DESTROYING PROPERTY IN THE GHETTO. MAYOR STOKES' UNIQUE TECHNIQUE FOR QUENCHING THE VIOLENCE IS OUTLINED. AT THE URGING OF BLACK LEADERS, HE PLACED CONTROL OF THE TROUBLED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THEIR HANDS, BARRING WHITE POLICEMEN AND THE NATIONAL GUARD FROM THE AREA. THE RESULTS OF THIS POLICY ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS REACTIONS OF POLICE AND THE POPULACE. NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND THEIR AFTERMATH.