Newark was one of the first cities to protest with race riots. Six days of rioting took place starting July 12 1967 and continuing through the 17th. The cause of these riots was when a black cab driver, John Smith, was arrested by white police officers due to him not driving past the officers 'respectably'. Witnesses saw Smith being arrested and a rumor began that the police had assaulted the cab driver. Protestors began to attack policemen and destroy private properties.