kenneth melchior Archives - The North

Mayor’s Appraisal- Trouble in Central Ward Called Isolated Incident (Newark Evening News- July13, 1967)

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

NPD Chronological Summary of Newark Riots (Excerpt on John Smith)-ilovepdf-compressed

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

John Smith Legal Complaint Against Dominick Spina, et al

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