UMDNJ Remembers: Newark 1967 - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)

On the night of July 12, 1967, a false rumor that police officers had killed an African-American cabdriver set off widespread violence in Newark. Over the course of five nights, 23 people were killed, 700 were injured and acres of property were scorched.

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The episode marked Newark as a national symbol of racial disparity, police brutality and urban despair.

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Four decades later, the city is still suffering from the deep psychic wounds left by the gunfire, looting and flames.

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People still cannot agree on how to describe the violence. Some say it was a "riot," others a "rebellion." Those seeking middle ground choose the neutral "disturbance."

Photos and captions courtesy of The New York Times.

Commemorating the 40th Anniversary
of the Newark Rebellion

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Today marks an important milestone in the history of Newark and by extension, the catalyst for the creation of our institution. For those who lived through the turbulent times in the summer of 1967, these memories are undoubtedly vivid and heartfelt. But these times also marked the opportunity to create a brighter future for Newark through inclusion and renewed hope.

Many of you who are part of today’s UMDNJ community were here in Newark and the surrounding towns watching the events unfold. However many others of you were not even born yet, but still live with the legacy of the rebellion and the hope that was inspired in the aftermath of that fateful week.

Much of the discussion since 1967 has focused on the root causes, and more pointedly, the results of the events over those five days. The Newark Agreements that were forged by community leaders and elected officials laid the foundation for the creation of the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry, what we now call UMDNJ – a pivotal resource in fulfilling the promise for change that grew out of the rebellion.

UMDNJ commemorates the events of July 1967 and provides a number of resources on this site for you to remember, learn, and become engaged. We also provide a calendar of events occurring in the region to recognize the turning point in our collective histories.