There had
also been a tendency to treat the residents, en masse, as enemies and
thereby to weld them into a hostile community. The federal troops
demonstrated that a calm, deliberate, and open display of force was
much more effective in restoring order than shooting at any
frightening or suspicious target.
By the time order was restored to Detroit, forty-three people had been
killed. Thirty-three were black, and ten were white. One Guardsman and
one fireman were among the casualties. Some of the other white victims
had been killed while they were engaged in looting. Damages were
originally estimated at five hundred million dollars, but later
estimates reduced the damage drastically.
Again, as in Newark, there was evidence of police brutality during the
riot. The police were charged with brutality and murder in an incident
which occurred at the Algiers Motel. After hearing that there had been
a sniper in the building, the police riddled it with bullets. Then,
they entered and searched it. In the course of questioning its
inhabitants, three youths were shot and killed.
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