Name: Date:

Philadelphia Student Demonstration 1967

CHQ: What happened at the Philadelphia Student Demonstration of 1967?

Do Now:
Based on what we discussed yesterday, what could students do to change the conditions and
inequity in Philadelphia schools for African American students?

Article Analysis: Read the New York Times article from Nov, 1967.
1) Underline all sections of text that you think blame students for what happened.
2) Circle all sections of text that you think blame the police for what happened.

**This article uses language we would not use today such as “Negro” to describe African
Americans.

New York Times

“Philadelphia Police Seize 57 as 3,500 Students Riot in Negro School Protest”
November 18, 1967

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 17 – A demonstration by more than 3,500 pupils from this
city’s 10 predominantly Negro high schools erupted into a riot today. The police,
under the personal command of Police Commissioner Frank L. Rizzo, restored
order after 57 persons were arrested and 17 were injured.
For more than an hour, the demonstrators threw rocks, upset barricades,
raced over the tops of automobiles, assaulted passers-by and battled some 400
policemen. Most of the trouble occurred outside the Board of Education’s
administration building at 21st Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Fighting
spilled over into side streets, and groups of rioters tried to invade City Hall and the
main police headquarters, but were repulsed.
The school board president, Richardson Dilworth, blamed the police for
touching off the disorders. He charged that the demonstration was being kept under
control by plainclothesmen [police officers wearing regular clothes, not uniforms]
until Mr. Rizzo, “without our request, set loose a couple of hundred men swinging
clubs and beating children.” Mr. Rizzo replied that he warned the school board in
advance that trouble was developing. He said he had advised the board to obtain an
injunction against the demonstration leaders. The trouble would not have occurred
if the board had heeded his advice, the Commissioner said.
The students cut classes this morning and marched in groups on the board of
education building, singing and shouting black power slogans. The school
headquarters, police headquarters and city hall are all within walking distance in
the downtown section. The rioting started at about 12:30 P.M. when disorder broke
out over the arrest of a youth. Within moments, fighting broke out over the area.
Windows were shattered in nearby streets. Gangs of youth began racing through
the streets molesting passersby. The police also received reports that Negro youths
were running up behind white pedestrians and knocking them down. At least two
women were injured in this fashion.
Some of the demonstrators headed for city hall, leaving a trail of about 20
automobiles with hoods and windshields smashed. They got as far as City Hall
courtyard before policemen drove them back. Nearly 100 other demonstrators
reached the police administration building. Detectives and uniformed policemen
armed with nightsticks drove the crowd away and made several arrests.
By 1:30 P.M. most of the disorder was over. Negro youths returning home
by subway and buses caused some disturbances on the way. Of the 57 arrested, 39
were juveniles who were released pending a hearing. The 18 adults were charged
with breach of peace and inciting to riot. Among them was the Rev. D. Marshall
Bevins, a white Episcopal rector. Almost all of the riot participants and those
arrested were Negroes.

Summarize the article in 1 sentence in your own words:

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Pair & Share: Turn to your partner.

1) Share what sections you annotated and explain why.
2) Listen as your partner explains what they annotated and why.
3) Discuss what you think happened at the Philadelphia Student Demonstration.

My partner and I think what happened at the Philadelphia Student Demonstration was

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Image Analysis: Observe each image. Answer the questions next to each image to analyze.

Image Questions
Based on what you know about the
Philadelphia Student Demonstration, what is
happening in this photo? How do you know
that?

What story is this photo telling?

Based on what you know about the

Philadelphia Student Demonstration, what is
happening in this photo? How do you know
that?

What story is this photo telling?

Based on what you know about the

Philadelphia Student Demonstration, what is
happening in this photo? How do you know
that?

What story is this photo telling?

 Based on what you know about the
Philadelphia Student Demonstration, what is
happening in this photo? How do you know
that?

What story is this photo telling?

Closing Questions: We will answer the following questions together as a class. Be prepared to
share out and take notes.

1) What do we think actually happened at the Philadelphia Student Demonstration?

2) Who was to blame? Who initiated the violence?

3) Why is it important to understand what happened in order to lear how we ended up in this
classroom learning African American History?