1969 Indianapolis riots: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Lockefield Garden Riot}}

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{{Infobox civil conflict

| title = Lockefield Garden Riot

| partof =

| image = Lockefield Garden.jpg

| image_size = 400px

| caption = Lockefield Garden Apartments

| date = 1969

| place = Indianapolis, Indiana

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The '''Lockefield Garden Riot''' was a riot in [[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]] that occurred in 1969. Following racial tensions between Black residents and the police, the riot lasted two days, from Thursday, June 12th5 to Saturday June 14th7. The riot began when two police offersofficers responded to a call about an alleged fight and reactions to their presence escalated. The riot resulted in the destruction of buildings and a number of arrests, but was eventually deescalated.

== Apartment Significance ==

[[Lockefield Gardens|Lockefield Garden]] was the first public housing complex built in Indianapolis, which was built by the Public Works Administration, spanning from 1935 to 1938. The building is located in present day [[Downtown Indianapolis]], near the notable [[Indiana Avenue|Indiana Avenue district]]. The complex was predominately Black and a significant cultural place for Black people in Indianapolis.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Lockefield Place Riots," Digital Civil Rights Museum |url=https:/>/digitalresearch.bsu.edu/digitalcivilrightsmuseum/items/show/95 |access-date=February 21, 2024}}</ref>

== Black and Police Relations in Indianapolis ==

In the 1906s1960s, Black people in Indianapolis and policethe [[Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department]] officers(IMPD) had an increasingly strained relationship as the police often surveilled and intimidated Black communities, especially those who they thought to have a significant participation in the blackBlack powerPower movementMovement. <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Thornbrough |first=Emma Lou |title=Indiana Blacks in the Twentieth Century |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-253-33799-2 |location=Bloomington, Indiana |publication-date=2000 |pages=186–187}}</ref> The police worked to stifle any types of “black militancymilitancy” or any actions that seemed to go against white authority.”<ref name=":0" />  They especially put a focus on predominantly Black Muslim communities through hyper-surveillance and deeming them extremist.<ref name=":0" /> With growing tensions, leaders from the Black community approached the mayor to ask for an independent and unbiased task force to review the biased actions fromin the police department.<ref name=":0" /> The mayor at the time, John J. Barton, did not respond favorably to these request.requests Hisand inactionchose lednot to morego offorward. With a similar reaction from the next mayor, Richard G. Lugar, there became more of divide between the blackBlack community and policegovernment authorities.<ref name=":0" />

This divide was further exaggerated by the arrival of athe local chapter of the [[Black Panther Party]], a pro-blackBlack community organization,. whichTheir connection to Black power alsoorganizing led to the increase in police surveillance. <ref name=":0" /> In March of 1969, two Black Panthers in the local chapter were charged and convicted with the conspiracy to murder the Indianapolis police chief, Winston L. Churchill. <ref name=":0" /> These arrestsconvictions caused further tensions in the surrounding community,<ref name=":3" /> and the riot was "...thought by some to be in retaliation for the conviction of the two panthers." <ref name=":0" />

== The Riot ==

On Thursday, June 125, of 1969 there was an alleged fight between two unknown men that Indianapolis police officers were called to break up. <ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Hinton |first=Elizabeth |title=America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion since the 1960s |publisher=Liverright Publishing Corporation |year=2021 |isbn=9781631498909 |location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> When the police officers arrived, "a group of twenty people attacked the officers." <ref name=":1" /> The officers were slightly injured, and in this conflict, one of their revolvers and badges were stolen. <ref name=":1" /> The [[Indianapolis Recorder]], an African American newspaper, reported that residents claimed, in an attempt to stop the young people that stole the revolver, "...one of the officers fired a volly of three shots in the direction of a group of playing children..." <ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=June 14, 1969 |title=Two nights of disorders rack Westside; calm restored sat. |url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=is&oid=INR19690614-01&type=staticpdf&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- |access-date=February 21, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Recorder |pages=1, 13}}</ref> Although the police did deny all allegations. <ref name=":2" /> When more police arrived, to assist the two police officers who were there, the crowd started to throw stones, bricks, and bottles at them along with other passing cars. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

There were hundreds of rioters who began looting and destroying businesses and buildings around themthe complex. One of the more severe moments during the riot, was the fire that was started in the Lockefield Big 10 Market, which was located two blocks over from the complex. Some scholars say that theThe rioters threw gasoline on the roof, which caused a large fire to start.<ref name=":0" /> while other scholars state that someone firebombed the building.<ref name=":12" /> The building was burning for around an hour, before the crowd, who had to be convinced by community organizers and activist,activists to let the fire fightersfirefighters pass toso that they could extinguish the fire. However, by the time the firefighters gained access to the building, it was almost completely destroyed.<ref name=":2" />

On the second night, law enforcement came with more force and an increased amount of police officers who worked long shifts to try and stifle the riot. <ref name=":1" /> There was a specific instance in which the Black Panther Party helped to put out a fire caused by the looters.<ref name=":2" /> The police and the rioters had a standoff, where the police made a lot of arrests.<ref name=":2" /> There are also reports of a local businesses around the area being broken untointo, torn apart, and looted over the two nights. These businesses included a laundry mat, a record store, a mens store, and many more businesses that were broken into, torn apart, and looted. Most of these businesses were near the complex or inand the Indiana Ave district.<ref name=":2" />

Almost atOn the samesecond timenight, ofIMPD thearrived masswith arrest,an civilianincreased snipersamount startedof topolice shootofficers fromwho theworked rooflong topshifts ofto try and stifle the Lockefieldriot Gardenusing Buildingmore force.<ref name=":1" /> TheyThe grazed a detectivepolice and shot a black resident in the leg.rioters Ahad helicoptera shinedlarge its light on the rooftopstandoff, attempting to exposewhere the snipers,police theymade shareda somelot gunof fire, and the snipers eventually withdrewarrests.<ref name=":12" /> AAlmost significantat amountthe ofsame praise was given to youth aparttime of the neighborhoodmass centerarrests, Ourcivilian Place,snipers helpedstarted to patrolshoot from the streetsrooftop Saturdayof andthe FridayLockefield nightGarden to urge cooperation with Police and people to go back to their homesBuilding.<ref name=":21" /> DueThey tograzed massa arrestdetective, Al Watkin, and theshot significantAndrew influenceMartin, ofa blackBlack activistresident, organizers,in the leg. A helicopter andshined leadersits light on the rooftop, attempting to peaceexpose keepingthe snipers, thingsthey cameshared tosome angun endfire, aroundand 5amthe onsnipers thateventually Saturdaywithdrew.<ref name=":21" />

A significant amount of praise was given to youth who were part of the neighborhood center, Our Place, as they helped to patrol the streets Friday night and Saturday. They urged cooperation with police and for people to go back to their homes.<ref name=":2" /> After chasing away looters, the Black Panther Party helped to keep down a fire before firemen arrived.<ref name=":2" /> Due to mass arrest, and the significant influence of Black activists, organizers, and leaders to peace keeping, the riots came to an end around 5 a.m. on that Saturday.<ref name=":2" /> Hinton states that "By the time the riot was over, two police officers in addition to Watkins was injured."<ref name=":1" /> However, the amount of those injured by the police are unknown.<ref name=":1" />

== Aftermath ==

More than 80 people were arrested and taken to jail.<ref name=":2" /> Due to the fact that a significant portion of the rioters were youth,<ref name=":2" /> those in the area were given a chance to “air their grievances.” <ref name=":0" /> SomeThis meeting was arranged by [[Flanner House]], a community organization on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. In the solutionmeeting, wasthey thatfocused moston the treatment of Black residents from the police. patrolsThe werecommunity removedrequested andrecurring onlymeetings with the presencepolice ofand AAthe officerscommunity beto alloweddiscuss the tension in the relationship. <ref name=":32" /> One Thisof riotthe promotedproposed othersolutions riotswas inthat Indianaa likesignificant Kokomo,portion whereof theythe hadpolice racialpatrols troubleswere asremoved welland only the presence of AA officers be allowed. <ref name=":03" /><ref name=":12" /> There were a few instances of firebombing and vandalism in various parts of Indianapolis in the days following, but nothing to the extent of a riot.<ref name=":2" /> This riot promoted other riots in Indiana like one in [[Kokomo, Indiana|Kokomo]], where they had racial troubles as well.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

While this riot did illuminate the racial tensiontensions in the city and the tension between police and blackBlack people, it also was the start of the deterioration of the area.<ref name=":0" /> Some of the businesses affected, like the Big Ten Market, stated that they would not reopen again.<ref name=":0" />

The '''Lockefield Garden Riot''' was a riot in [[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]] that occurred in 1969. Following racial tensions between Black residents and the police, the riot lasted two days, from Thursday June 12th to Saturday June 14th. The riot began when two police offers responded to call about an alleged fight and reactions to their presence escalated. The riot resulted in the destruction of buildings and a number of arrests, but was eventually deescalated.

==Apartment Significance==

The Lockefield Garden Riot was a riot in Indianapolis, Indiana that occurred in 1969. Following racial tensions between Black residents and the police, the riot lasted two days, from Thursday June 12th to Saturday June 14th. The riot began when two police offers responded to call about an alleged fight and reactions to their presence escalated. The riot resulted in the destruction of buildings and a number of arrests, but was eventually deescalated.

==Black and Police Relations in Indianapolis==

In the 1906s, Black people in Indianapolis and police officers had an increasingly strained relationship as the police often surveilled and intimidated Black communities, especially those who they thought to have a significant participation in the black power movement. <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Thornbrough |first=Emma Lou |title=Indiana Blacks in the Twentieth Century |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-253-33799-2 |location=Bloomington, Indiana |publication-date=2000 |pages=186-187}}</ref> They worked to stifle any types of “black militancy.” <ref name=":0" /> They especially put a focus on predominantly Muslim communities.<ref name=":0" /> With growing '''tensions''', leaders from the Black community approached the mayor to ask for an independent and unbiased task force to review the biased actions from the police.<ref name=":0" /> The mayor did not respond favorably to these request.<ref name=":0" /> His inaction led to more of a divide between the black community and police authorities.<ref name=":0" /> This divide was further exaggerated by the arrival of a local chapter of the [[Black Panther Party]], a pro-black community organization, which also increased police surveillance.<ref name=":0" /> Two Black Panthers in the [[Indianapolis Black Pather Party|local chapter]] were charged and convicted with the conspiracy to murder the Indianapolis police chief, Winston L. Churchill.<ref name=":0" /> These arrests caused further tensions in the surrounding community.<ref name=":3" />

==The Riot==

On Thursday, June 12, of 1969 there was an alleged fight that Indianapolis police officers were called to break up.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Hinton |first=Elizabeth |title=America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion since the 1960s |publisher=Liverright Publishing Corporation, |year=2021 |isbn=9781631498909 |location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Lockefield Place Riots,” Digital Civil Rights Museum |url=https://digitalresearch.bsu.edu/digitalcivilrightsmuseum/items/show/95 |access-date=February 21, 2024}}</ref> When the police officers arrived, "a group of twenty people attacked the officers." <ref name=":1" /> The officers were slightly injured, and in this conflict, one of their revolvers and badges were stolen.<ref name=":1" /> The [[Indianapolis Recorder]] reported that residents claimed, in an attempt to stop the young people that stole the revover, "...one of the officers fired a volly of three shots in the direction of a group of playing children..."<ref name=":2" /> Although the police did deny all allegations.<ref name=":2" /> When more police arrived, to assist the two police officers who were there, the crowd started to throw stones, bricks, and bottles at them along with other passing cars.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=June 14, 1969 |title=Two nights of disorders rack Westside; calm restored sat. |url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=is&oid=INR19690614-01&type=staticpdf&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- |url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Recorder |pages=1,13}}</ref>

There were hundreds of rioters who began looting and destroying businesses and buildings around them. One of the more severe moments during the riot, was the fire that was started the Lockefield Big 10 Market.<ref name=":0" /> Some scholars say that the rioters threw gasoline on the roof,<ref name=":0" /> while other scholars state that someone firebombed the building.<ref name=":1" /> The building was burning for around an hour, before the crowd, who had to be convinced by community organizers and activist, let the fire fighters pass to extinguish the fire. However, by the time the firefighters gained access to the building, it was almost completely destroyed.<ref name=":2" /> There are reports of a local laundry mat, record store, mens store, and many more businesses that were broken into, torn apart, and looted.<ref name=":2" />

On the second night, law enforcement came with more force and an increased amount of police officers who worked long shifts to try and stifle the riot.<ref name=":1" /> There was a specific instance in which the Black Panther Party helped to put out a fire caused by the looters.<ref name=":2" /> The police and the rioters had a standoff, in which the police made a lot of arrests.<ref name=":2" />

Almost at the same time of the mass arrest, civilian snipers started to shoot from the roof top of the Lockefield Garden Building.<ref name=":1" /> They grazed a detective and shot a black resident in the leg.<ref name=":1" /> A helicopter shined its light on the rooftop, attempting to expose the snipers, they shared some gun fire, and the snipers eventually withdrew.<ref name=":1" /> A significant amount of praise was given to youth apart of the neighborhood center, Our Place, helped to patrol the streets Saturday and Friday night to urge cooperation with Police and people to bo back to their homes.<ref name=":2" /> Due to mass arrest, and the significant influence of black activist, organizers, and leaders to peace keeping, things came to an end around 5am on that Saturday. <ref name=":2" />

== Aftermath ==

Due to the fact that a significant portion of the rioters were youth<ref name=":2" />, youth and those in the area, were given a chance to “air their grievances.” <ref name=":0" /> Some of the solution was that most police patrols were removed and only the presence of AA officers be allowed. <ref name=":3" /> This riot promoted other riots in Indiana like Kokomo, where they had racial troubles as well.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> There were a few instances of firebombing and vandalism in various parts of Indianapolis in the days following, but nothing to the extent of a riot<ref name=":2" />

While this riot did illuminate the racial tension in the city and the tension between police and black people, it also was the start of the deterioration of the area. <ref name=":0" /> Some of the businesses affected stated that they would not reopen again.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==

*[[Lockefield Gardens]]

*

==References==

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* [https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=is&oid=INR19690614-01&type=staticpdf&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- The Recorder Newspaper June 14th, 1969] [https://digitalresearch.bsu.edu/digitalcivilrightsmuseum/items/show/95 Ball State University Lockefield Place Riots]

{{Indiana history|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:1969 riots]]

[[Category:Race riots in the United States]]