U-Matic

Tape 1
No Crime Day
9/27/86
Dup. 10/15/86

U-Matic tape containing the first of two parts of footage shot during No Crime Day, on September 27, 1986, for broadcast on the city's government-access television channel. This portion includes footage of the participating celebrities pre-march, as well as the beginning of the footage of the rally at Hart Plaza. The footage is continued on tape 2015.009.193.

The tape opens with on-screen text which reads, "Next Program to Start At 10:00 AM. Detroit Metro. Police Academy, KTB-98 Detroit, Mich Ch-10." Another follows which reads, "Detroit No Crime Day, Sept. 27, 1986, Part 1." A series of distant high angle shots follow of Isiah Thomas, Erma Henderson, Nicholas Hood, Claud Young, Justice Dennis Archer, Representative John Conyers, Bishop Edmund Szoka, Emanuel Steward, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, David Eberhard, and Chief William Hart in an indoor VIP area--presumably in the Wayne County Building--where food, beverages, and a television (showing the University of Michigan Wolverines vs Florida State Seminoles football game) are set up. A man then addresses the VIPs from a podium to explain the timing and security procedures for the march.

The recording then cuts to a performance by the Detroit Police Department band, The Blue Pigs, in Hart Plaza's amphitheater. The band covers "The Way You Do The Thing You Do" and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The footage also includes the band member introductions and several pans across the crowd. Further footage follows of the crowd as people, including a marching band, arrive at Hart Plaza. The Second Ebenezer Baptist Church's youth choir performs next. Between extended shots of the choir, the camera continues to get footage of the crowd, including footage of an ROTC group arriving.

Next, several of the VIPs, including Mayor Coleman A. Young, Thomas, and the members of City Council are filmed taking their seats as John Mason from 97.9 WJLB addresses the crowd as the event's master of ceremonies. Bishop Edmund Szoka of the Archdiocese of Detroit then provides the invocation. The invocation is followed by a speech by Eastside Coordinating Councilman, Frank Porta. He is followed by Gladys Woodard of the Delray United Action Council, who criticizes a lack of support from the federal government. Next hip hop duo, Motor City Organization performs a song. Mason then introduces more of the people in the stage area. Next, the 3rd Deputy Police Chief of the Detroit Police Department, Jim Ingram, speaks and remarks that he was "incensed" by the day from the standpoint of the negative press and opinions of the outcome of the day, saying that one day of no crime can do more than one day of not smoking. Following this, Congressman John Conyers introduces Mayor Coleman who then explains how Isiah Thomas conceived of the event. Young remarks that the event is "just the beginning of the city's fight against crime." The recording ends on this tape, continuing on tape 2015.009.193.

The recording is on a 3M UCA-75 U-Matic tape with a handwritten 3M label that reads, "Tape 1 No Crime Day 9/27/86 Dup. 10/15/86." The tape is housed in a black plastic latching case with a handwritten 3M label that reads, "Tape 1 No Crime Day 9/27/86 Dup. 10/15/86."