Doug Baier

My recollection of the events of 1967 involved coming back from a summer church camp (Camp Barakel, in Fairview Michigan). We were sequestered and no radios or newspapers were allowed. As we were returning home after one week at camp we were astonished to see a continuous National Guard troop convoy from Camp Grayling to Detroit (203 miles). No one offered any explanation or context. I lived in Redford Township at the time and, when we arrived back, rumors were rampant about an armed insurrection in Detroit and that the suburbs were imperiled. It was a very interesting time.

I believe, as Mayor Coleman Young stated, the suburbs became even more hostile and uncollaborative after this period of unrest. I heard it often repeated as I was growing up that there was nothing useful on the other side (East) of Telegraph Road. It took me years to find out that this wasn't the case.

Thanks for undertaking this educational process.