THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY RIOTS
In 1947, the Texas legislature founded Texas State University for Negroes in an attempt to postpone integration at the University of Texas. TSU's Law School Dean, Kenneth S. Trollett, commented, "We were born in sin." Demonstrations and rallies had been occurring in protest to the dismissal of a campus organization, Friends of the SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) culminating in a four hundred person march on the courthouse.
On May 17, 1967, the atmosphere in Houston, Texas was fraught with racial tensions. A false rumor that a black child was shot by a white police officer had circulated in the community. On the TSU campus, angry students threw something at a passing police vehicle. More students gathered and more people arrived on the scene. A shot was fired, wounding a police officer. Instantly, a riot was in full swing. The police believed the shot was fired from Lanier Hall, the men's dormitory. Several thousand rounds were fired into the building and return fire was exchanged. Eventually, five-hundred officers would enter the dormitory. In the end, one officer was killed, one student and two officers were wounded, and 488 students were arrested.
After the TSU riots, in a Sports Illustrated article, the point of view of the TSU track team was reported. Members of the track relay team had been caught up in the riots with two of them being arrested. The team nearly missed the Modesto track meet after winning the conference title. They described being ripped from their beds in the men's dormitory at 3:15 in the morning. Bobby Evans explained that he was awakened with a pistol pointed at his head. The article commented that, after the riots, the inevitable feeling the track members must have had at the meet must have been unfortunately, one of hate.
On May 17, 1967, the atmosphere in Houston, Texas was fraught with racial tensions. A false rumor that a black child was shot by a white police officer had circulated in the community. On the TSU campus, angry students threw something at a passing police vehicle. More students gathered and more people arrived on the scene. A shot was fired, wounding a police officer. Instantly, a riot was in full swing. The police believed the shot was fired from Lanier Hall, the men's dormitory. Several thousand rounds were fired into the building and return fire was exchanged. Eventually, five-hundred officers would enter the dormitory. In the end, one officer was killed, one student and two officers were wounded, and 488 students were arrested.
After the TSU riots, in a Sports Illustrated article, the point of view of the TSU track team was reported. Members of the track relay team had been caught up in the riots with two of them being arrested. The team nearly missed the Modesto track meet after winning the conference title. They described being ripped from their beds in the men's dormitory at 3:15 in the morning. Bobby Evans explained that he was awakened with a pistol pointed at his head. The article commented that, after the riots, the inevitable feeling the track members must have had at the meet must have been unfortunately, one of hate.