On July 12, 1967, a rumor spread through Newark, New Jersey’s black neighborhoods that taxi driver John Smith had been fatally beaten by police, sparking what became known as “The Newark Riots.” National Guard and N.J. State Troopers were summoned to reinforce local police to quell the rebellion. Eloise Spellman, a mother of 11, looking out of the window of her housing project, was shot by the police. Acclaimed New York Times journalist Bob Herbert was shocked by LIFE Magazine’s image of his friend, Billy Furr, who was also killed by the police. In all, 26 people died as a result of the riots, which lasted nearly a week.