“Newark, NJ: Policemen stand beside the broken window of a liquor store on Belmont Avenue after outbreak of violence in Newark early July 13th. Negroes enraged by the alleged beating of a cab driver by police besieged a station house and touched off a wave of window-smashing and looting. Trash can (right) was used to break this store window.” — Credit: UPI Photo
Cover of the July 21, 1967 edition of TIME Magazine depicting “Newark Cab Driver John Smith.” The beating of Smith by Newark Police officers is credited as “the spark” for the 1967 Newark rebellion. — Credit: TIME Magazine, Newark Public Library
Article from the Star-Ledger on Friday July 14, 1967 reporting Mayor Addonizio’s responses to two nights of demonstrations and violence in Newark following the July 12 arrest and beating of John Smith by Newark Police officers. The articles describes Mayor Addonizio’s responses, including: appointing a commission to investigate the causes of “violence and looting,” promoting an African American police officer to the rank of captain, ordering invesigations from the Newark Police and Human Rights Commission, assigning the involved officers to administrative duty, and referring the case to the FBI. — Credit: The Star-Ledger
Witness testimony of Robert Curvin before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders on October 17, 1967. In his testimony, Curvin describes a meeting at City Hall on Thursday, July 13, 1967 with James Hooper (CORE), Mayor Addonizio, and Police Director Dominick Spina. The meeting, held the day after John Smith was arrested and beaten by Newark Police, was held to discuss government responses to issues of police brutality in the community. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
Article from the Newark Evening News on July 13, 1967, the day after John Smith was arrested and beaten by Newark Police outside of the Fourth Precinct. The article describes Mayor Addonizio’s responses to what he called “an isolated incicdent,” including assigning the police officers involved to administrative duty, ordering investigations, and referring the case to the FBI. — Credit: Newark Evening News
Witness testimony of Earl Harris before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders on December 8, 1967. In his testimony, Harris describes meeting with Mayor Addonizio on Thursday, July 13, the day after John Smith was arrested and beaten by Newark Police officers. At the meeting, Harris, George Richardson, Harry Wheeler, and Eulis “Honey” Ward discussed possible mayoral responses to the events of July 12 to avoid further violence. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
Witness testimony given by John Smith during hearings conducted by the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders on December 4, 1967. In his testimony, Smith describes the events of July 12, 1967, when he was arrested and beaten by Newark Police Officers. Smith’s arrest and beating are credited as the actions that “sparked” the 1967 Newark rebellion. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
Excerpt from the “Chronological Summary of the Newark Riots” prepared by the Newark Police Department. The excerpt includes accounts of the arrest of John Smith on July 12, 1967 and the ensuing confrontations that took place that evening in front of the Fourth Precinct. The arrest and beating of Smith is considered the incident that “sparked” the 1967 Newark rebellion. — Credit: New Jersey State Archive
Map of the “riot area” around the Fourth Precinct, where John Smith was beaten and detained. The map shows the proximity of the Fourth Precinct to the Hayes Homes Projects. — Credit: Tom Hayden, Rebellion in Newark
Civil lawsuit filed by John Smith against Dominick Spina, Oliver Kelly, John DeSimone, Vito Pontrelli, and unidentified Newark police officers, claiming intentional racial discrimination and violation of his right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. — Credit: Newark Public Library
