Excerpt from a pamphlet distributed by the Church in Metropolis organization to summarize the findings of the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorder. The pamphlet contains a compilation of newsclippings from the Newark Evening News related to the Commission’s Report and a summary of its recommendations. — Credit: Newark Public Library
Deposition of Jake Sessoms, African American owner of Sentry Appliance Service on Springfield Avenue, before the State of New Jersey Grand Jury. Sessoms stated “I had written ‘Soul’ on his windows and consequently I had not been bothered by rioters.” However, Sessoms noted that his front windows were damaged by thrown objects and gunfire the night of Sunday July 16, 1967. — Credit: Newark Public Library
Photograph of a bullet clip dropped by a police officer after shooting into a store owned by Nancy Ferguson on July 16, 1967. Ms. Ferguson picked up the clip to keep as evidence, and later presented it to the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders. — Credit: New Jersey State Archives
Report submitted to the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders by Colonel David B Kelly of the New Jersey State Police regarding the amount of ammunition fired by State Police during the 1967 Newark rebellion. The report includes the types and amounts of ammunition used by New Jersey State Police, as well as the number of sniper activity reported by State Police, Newark Police, and Newark Fire Departments. Reports of sniper activity were widely utilized by law enforcement agencies during the rebellion to justify “indiscriminate shooting” at buildings, vehicles, and individuals. — Credit: New Jersey State Archives
Letter submitted to the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders by Major General James Cantwell of the New Jersey National Guard regarding the amount of ammunition fired by the National Guard during the 1967 rebellions in Newark and nearby Plainfield. The report includes the types and amounts of ammunition used by National Guardsmen, estimated to total over 10,000 rounds. — Credit: New Jersey State Archives
Statement prepared by Newark Legal Services Project for the Newark Human Rights Commission regarding the first 225 statements given to NLSP about law enforcement actions during the 1967 Newark rebellion. The actions of law enforcement officers are summarized in four categories: “personal indignities inflicted upon Negroes,” “physical violence inflicted upon Negroes,” “indiscriminate shooting,” and “deliberate destruction of Negro property.” — Credit: Newark Public Library
Statement issued by Governor Hughes on the morning of Sunday, July 16 from the Newark Armory. In the statement, Hughes offers executive clemency for anyone arrested during the “riots” who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of “snipers.” While frequently reported by police and National Guard to justify “indiscriminate shooting” at buildings, vehicles, and individuals, the presence of snipers has been widely discredited by community members, reporters, and historians. No one took Hughes up on his offer. — Credit: New Jersey State Archives
Witness Testimony of Robert Curvin before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders. In his testimony, Curvin describes a meeting with Governor Hughes, Tom Hayden (NCUP), and others on Sunday July 16, 1967 to discuss “impressions of what was going on in the community at the time.” Community leaders, such as Curvin, acted as intermediaries betwen government officials and Newark residents during the 1967 rebellion through meetings like this. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
