WXYZ-TV will broadcast the television premiere of the film, “12th and Clairmount,” on Sunday, July 23, the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit riots/rebellion. The Detroit Free Press film was produced in collaboration with WXYZ and Bridge Magazine, and explores the racial and economic tensions that lead to the most violent uprising in Detroit’s history. The documentary features WXYZ archival film along with home movies from Detroiters who witnessed the five-day rebellion and shared their stories.
“It’s so important that we reflect on the past and learn from those experiences if we’re going to move our community forward,” said Mike Murri, WXYZ and WMYD vice president and general manager. “Improving our community is core to our mission at WXYZ and the mission of our Detroit 2020 project…to unify our region and inspire people to act.”
“12th and Clairmount” will air at 7 p.m. on WXYZ. A Detroit 2020 town hall discussion, Detroit 1967: Looking Back to Look Forward,” will air immediately following the film on air and live on the WXYZ Facebook page, where viewers can participate. The town hall program will be hosted by 7 Action News anchor Carolyn Clifford who was born and raised in Detroit. She will be joined by 7 Action News anchor Dave LewAllen and WXYZ editorial and community affairs director Chuck Stokes. The show will recognize the struggles that led to the violence in the summer of 1967 and focus on efforts to learn from those experiences.
WXYZ will also partner with the Downtown Detroit Partnership to present a special screening of the film, “12th and Clairmount,” at Campus Martius Park on Thursday, July 27, at 8 p.m.
WXYZ editorial director Chuck Stokes will host a special “Spotlight on the News,” program from Campus Martius Park on Sunday, July 23, at 10 a.m. The show will feature interviews with newsmakers and Detroit residents who lived through the violence, and a roundtable discussion that includes 7 Action News anchors Carolyn Clifford and Dave LewAllen.
On July 23, 7 Action News at 11 p.m. will broadcast a 7 Action News special that examines the 50 years since the 1967 uprising; looks at how far the city has progressed; and addresses the work that still needs to be done to move our community forward.
From July 17 through July 22, 7 Action News at 5 p.m. will include a daily special report focusing on the uprising. Daily coverage will also be available online at wxyz.com/Detroit1967. WXYZ will feature a series of short videos at facebook.com/wxyzdetroit that examines the roots of the violence and the progress made over the past 50 years. Topics will include what happened at the Motown studios, a solider and Detroit native dropped into the violence, and the “white flight” that followed the rebellion.
