Fact-based drama set during the 1967 Detroit riots in which a group of rogue police officers respond to a complaint with retribution rather than justice on their minds.
A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest race riots in United States history. The story is centered around the Algiers Motel incident, which occurred in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1967, during the 12th Street Riot. It involves the death of three black men and the brutal beatings of nine other people: seven black men and two white women.—chris
The true story of one of the most terrifying moments during the civil unrest that rocked Detroit in the summer of '67. Amidst the chaos of the Detroit Rebellion, with the city under curfew and as the Michigan National Guard patrolled the streets, three young African American men were murdered at the Algiers Motel. 50 years after the events of July 25th, 1967, the question remains: what happened at the motel?—Annapurna Pictures
The race riots that occurred in the predominantly black Victoria Park neighborhood of Detroit in late July, 1967 are presented. The riots began on July 23 following a raid on an unlicensed after hours black club serving liquor in celebration for just returned black soldiers from the war. The confrontation between the black populace of the neighborhood and police escalated with increasing action on both sides, those actions including burning and looting in the neighborhood on the public side, and the setting of curfews and calling in the National Guard to assist by Michigan Governor George Romney. The movie focuses on a situation on the evening of July 25 in the Algiers Motel, where the authorities, led by the Detroit Police Department, were searching for a supposed sniper firing at the authorities, the motel which should have been a place of sanctuary away from riots happening outside the motel walls. The individuals at the motel that evening include the following. White DPD Officer Phillip Krauss has his own moral stance where he will do whatever required to exact his form of justice, which included the day before mortally shooting a black looter in the back as he was running away unarmed. That incident the day before colors the way Krauss now handles such confrontations. A singular white National Guardman on the scene knows the volatility of the situation based on the patrolmen's actions, but does whatever he can to keep those being interrogated alive while not stepping on the toes of the police. Melvin Dismukes is a black part-time security guard who does whatever he can to diffuse the situation all in an effort for the black populace to survive whatever given situation at the time. Larry 'Cleveland' Reed, the lead singer for the Dramatics, and his friend Fred Temple took refuge at the motel after a gig which could have been the Dramatics big break was canceled at the last minute due to the riots, which left them outside after curfew. Carl Cooper, a resident at the motel, wanted white people to feel the fear black people felt every day at the hands and more specifically guns of the police. Greene, a black man, is a recently decommissioned soldier, who is solely in Detroit trying to find a job. And Julie Ann and Karen are two young white women from Ohio staying at the motel, they who have no issue in partying with the predominantly black residents and other guests at the motel.—Huggo
On July 23, 1967, the Detroit Police Department staged a raid on an unlicensed club during a celebration for returning black veterans from the Vietnam War. While suspects are being arrested, a mob forms and starts throwing rocks at the officers before looting nearby stores and starting fires, beginning the 12th Street Riot. With state authorities, elected representatives, and even emergency services unable to maintain any semblance of order, Governor George W. Romney authorizes the Michigan Army National Guard and President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes Army paratroopers to enter Detroit in order to provide assistance. On the second day of rioting, two cops pursue a fleeing looter. One of them, Philip Krauss, kills the man with a shotgun against orders, but is allowed to remain on duty until his superiors can decide whether to file murder charges.
The Great Migration started before WW 1. 6 million African Americans migrated from the cotton fields of the South for the lure of factory jobs and civil rights in the North of USA. After WW II, the white population migrated to the suburbs, which drew money and jobs away from the cities and from increasingly segregated urban neighborhoods.
1960's USA was a time for racial tensions across the country with riots breaking out in Harlem, Philadelphia, Watts and Newark. Detroit had a large African American population in segregated and narrow neighborhoods, policed by a white police force, known for its aggression. The equal opportunity promised by the civil rights was turning out to be an illusion.
On July 23, 1967, the Detroit police stage a raid on an unlicensed club during a celebration for returning African American veterans (from the Korean and Vietnam wars). Reason for raid was lack of liquor license for the place.While suspects are being arrested after being taken out the front door in full public view, a mob forms and starts throwing rocks at the officers before looting nearby stores and starting fires, beginning the 12th Street Riot. With civil authorities, elected representatives, and even emergency services (like the fire services) unable to maintain any semblance of order, Governor George W. Romney authorizes the Michigan National Guard and Army paratroopers to enter Detroit in order to provide assistance. An area of 150 blocks (primarily the core of riots) is announced to be off-limits to everyone. 1100 National Guard troops, supported by tanks and machine guns roll into the African American neighborhoods of Detroit.
On the second day of rioting, two cops Krauss and Flynn (Ben O'Toole) pursue a fleeing looter exiting a grocery store. One of them, Philip Krauss (Will Poulter), mortally wounds the man with a shotgun against orders, but is allowed to remain on active duty until his superiors can decide whether to file murder charges. Krauss had shot the person in his back, while he was running away. Krauss says that the rioter could have killed somebody inside the grocery store, and hence was running away from the police.
The Dramatics, a professional African American R&B group, arrive in Detroit hoping to score a recording contract. Seconds before their scheduled performance at a music hall, the police shut down the venue and order them to leave the city. On their route out, their bus is attacked by rioters and the group subsequently splits up, with lead singer Larry Reed (Algee Smith) and his friend Fred Temple (Jacob Latimore) renting a room at the local Algiers Motel for the night. They meet two white girls, Julie Ann (Hannah Murray) and Karen (Kaitlyn Dever) along with Lee (Peyton Alex Smith), Michael (Malcolm David Kelley), who introduce them to their friends Carl Cooper (Jason Mitchell) and Aubrey Pollard (Gbenga Akinnagbe).
Carl and another friend stage a prank using a starter pistol, upsetting Julie and Karen, who move to the room of Greene, a Vietnam War veteran, while Larry and Fred return to their own room.
Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega), a private security guard, is assigned to protect a grocery store from looters and ingratiates himself with the Guardsmen. Some guardsmen pull up outside, and Carl decides to fire several blanks at the troops to frighten them. The shots are mistaken for a sniper attack, and members of the National Guard and the state and local police descend upon the Algiers annex to investigate. Krauss guns down a fleeing Carl immediately upon entering the building and plants a knife next to the body.
Accompanied by Dismukes and some Guardsmen, the police round up everyone in the hotel and line them against the wall, demanding to know who the shooter was. Despite Dismukes failing to find any weapon during a search of the room, Krauss orders several suspects to be moved to different rooms and subjected to mock executions as part of a "game" to terrify the others into confessing. Dismukes arrives and, although he does not like what he sees, does not challenge Krauss openly. As the situation spirals out of control, most of the state police and national guardsmen leave to avoid being associated with it, but no one intervenes or reports the abuse.
Julie and Karen are taken to an upstairs room when they begin screaming, and Julie's clothes are torn off. Disgusted, Dismukes and a Guardsman manage to get them released from custody. Not understanding the executions were supposed to be faked, officer Demens (Jack Reynor) actually kills Aubrey, and a worried Krauss offers to let the remaining suspects leave if they swear to keep silent. Greene and Larry agree and are let go, but Fred refuses and is killed.Krauss, fearing arrest, permits the remaining suspects to leave, but only if they swear to keep silent. Greene and Larry agree, but Fred is killed when he refuses.
As the riots die down, Dismukes, while working his other job in a factory, is arrested and charged with murder after Julie identifies him as being present at the Algiers that night. Krauss and his fellow officers are questioned as well, and when everyone except Krauss confesses, they are also charged.
Larry, whose singing career has stalled due to the trauma he experienced, is summoned as a witness to testify. Two years later, at the trial, the testimony of the survivors of the incident is picked apart by the defense attorney. When the judge finds the officers' statements to be inadmissible because they were not properly advised of their Miranda rights, the prosecution's case falls apart.Without a solid case, the all-white jury acquits Dismukes, Krauss, and their co-defendants of all charges. Dismukes confronts Krauss with the truth but finds himself powerless to get any justice for the victims.
Dismukes moved to the suburbs to escape death threats and resumed work as a security guard, Krauss and his men remained on the force but never returned to active duty, Julie rebuilt her life and started a family.Larry rethinks his singing career due to the trauma he experienced, and watches as his former band-mates achieve success without him. Living in squalor, he ultimately gets a job as choir director at a small church.
