Long, hot summer of 1967
| Long, hot summer of 1967 | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Ghetto riots | |
Film on the riots created by the White House Naval Photographic Unit | |
| Date | April–August 1967 |
| Location | |
| Resulted in | Kerner Commission established |
| Casualties | |
| Death(s) | 85+ |
| Injuries | 2,100+ |
| Arrested | 11,000+ |
The long, hot summer of 1967 refers to a period of widespread racial unrest across major American cities during the summer of 1967, where over 150 riots erupted, primarily fueled by deep-seated frustrations regarding police brutality, poverty, and racial inequality within black communities. This term highlights the intensity and widespread nature of the urban violence that summer.
The most destructive riots of the summer took place in July, in Detroit and Newark; many contemporary newspaper headlines described them as "battles". President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Kerner Commission to investigate the causes of the riots and address underlying societal issues.