RIOTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Public disorder in the form of riots in the United States is almost as old as the country (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 1968). While riots have never reached the stage of becoming a way of life in the United States, neither can their occurrence be considered a rarity. During the mid-1960sù1963 through 1967, public disorder very nearly did become a way of life in the countryÆs urban areasùparticularly so in the major population centers (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 1968).

This research examines the phenomenon of riots in the United States. In this examination, an attempt is made to identify the causes of urban riots, and an effort is made to suggest what communities and government could have done to preclude the development of riots. Within the context of time, the focus of this research is on the 1963-1967 period. Urban riots are considered, as opposed to politically-based riots anti-war riots which also occurred during this time period. The focal point for the anti-war riots was the Viet Nam War (Sumner & Barth, 1990). When that war was brought to a conclusion, the anti-war riots went into an eclipse. Recent federal administrations in the United States have successfully muted anti-war criticisms through the use of an all-volunteer army in combat, and through the creation of a Rambo image for American foreign policy. As a consequence, Americans have been able to emulate the ancien

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nd a series of 13 riots ensued over the spring and summer months (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 1968). The majority of the participants in six of the 13 riots was comprised of young men. In past urban riots in the United States, and in the remaining seven riots in Watts in the summer of 1966, the majority of participants was comprised of adults (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 1968). The turning off of an illegally opened fire hydrant in a black Chicago neighborhood in the summer of 1966 sparked a major riot of several days duration (National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 1968). The riot was marked by rock throwing, looting, fire bombing, and random gunfire. Three black persons were killed by stray bullets. In 1967, major riots occurred at three black universities located in the SouthùFisk University and Tennessee A & I University, both located in Nashville, and Jackson State College, located in Jackson, Mississippi. A riot also occurred at a black university in TexasùTexas Southern University, located in Houston. The Nashville riot began when SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) militants at Fisk and Tennessee A & I objected when a black police officer arrested a dr
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Approximate Word count = 2828
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)