Witness Testimony of Earl Harris before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders on December 8, 1967. The Commission was formed to investigate the causes of the 1967 Newark rebellion and operated much like a Grand Jury investigation. –Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
Excerpt from the testimony of community leader Harry Wheeler before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorder on December 8, 1967. In this excerpt, Mr. Wheeler discusses the abusive practices of the Newark Police Department and describes a particular instance when he was accosted by Newark police officers. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
Witness Testimony of Earl Harris before the Governor’s Select Commission on Civil Disorders on December 8, 1967. In his testimony, Harris describes the destruction of his store on Elizabeth Street by State Police and Newark Police the night of July 15, 1967. Widespread destruction of Black-owned businesses by State Police and National Guardsmen was reported in Newark the night of July 15 into the morning of July 16. — Credit: Rutgers University Digital Legal Library Repository
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
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
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
