Smack in the middle of the Civil War, Detroit experienced a riot that was characterized as “the most brutal and bloody riot that ever disgraced any community.” A local bar owner, Thomas Faulkner, who was thought to be African-American (he wasn’t) went to trial in March, 1863 on sexual assault charges. The accuser was a 10-year-old white girl who later recanted her story. A riot broke out as Faulkner was being escorted to the jail house following his conviction. Two people died. It also set local African-Americans fleeing into the woods and across the Detroit River to Canada. We tell the story with the help of historians Martin Hershock and Ken Coleman. 

Voices on this podcast include Ron Stockton, who voiced passages from the Free Press; Tony Mottley, Khaliph Young, Gerald Davis, and Kevin Poston read from the 19th century document: A Thrilling Narrative From the Lips of the Sufferers of the Late Detroit Riot