Gene Bennet
Title
Gene Bennet
Description
Gene Bennet recalls various memories surrounding the events of June 1967.
Publisher
Detroit Historical Society
Date
07/10/2015
Rights
Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI
Format
Text
Language
en-US
Type
Written Story
Coverage
Driving north on I-75 Freeway to I-94 Freeway; Chrysler Factory on Lynch Road
Text
One early Sunday afternoon my wife, my 2 kids and I were coming home from Cedar Point. As a speeder I usually drive 5 10 or 15 over the limit; driving a ‘63 Chrysler 300, it was very unusual to see anyone pass me. But driving up 75 and 94 at least a dozen cars passed me and each one had at least 5 or 6 Black males in it; no women or kids.
I worked at Chrysler’s Dodge forge on Lynch Rd on the midnight shift at the time. Late into the night, a friend and I climbed to the top of the loading tower for the power house to see Detroit lit up like a Christmas tree and listened to the gunfire. The next night my friend was down there on the street with the National Guard. At the time it made me wonder where all those guys that passed me on the freeway were going as there was nothing special going on that weekend downtown. But I often wondered if they didn't get something going on with the after-hours club.
I worked at Chrysler’s Dodge forge on Lynch Rd on the midnight shift at the time. Late into the night, a friend and I climbed to the top of the loading tower for the power house to see Detroit lit up like a Christmas tree and listened to the gunfire. The next night my friend was down there on the street with the National Guard. At the time it made me wonder where all those guys that passed me on the freeway were going as there was nothing special going on that weekend downtown. But I often wondered if they didn't get something going on with the after-hours club.
Original Format
email message
Submitter's Name
Gene Bennet
Submission Date
03/22/2015
Search Terms
Cedar Point, Michigan National Guard, Chrysler, Lynch Road
Files
Collection
Citation
“Gene Bennet,” Detroit Historical Society Oral History Archive, accessed October 4, 2024, https://detroit1967.detroithistorical.org/items/show/20.