alternatehistory.com

July 26, 1968

Gun ownership, radical groups on the rise in Detroit

Detroit’s comeback after Fermi is marred by a disturbing trend: white backlash. On the surface, Detroit appears to have become a model for good race relations. Slowly but surely, efforts to integrate the racially divided city seem to be succeeding. The Big Three have begun hiring initiatives to hire Black workers, newly-passed open housing laws have allowed Blacks to live in neighborhoods previously closed off to them, and the mayor’s New Detroit Committee has given community leaders a political voice. But not all Detroiters approve of this progress.

Many white Detroiters are simply leaving for the suburbs. Others are taking up arms, joining radical organizations such as Breakthrough. Breakthrough is a rabidly anti-Communist organization led by Donald Lobsinger, a 34-year-old army veteran. His band of vocal supporters have disrupted several city council meetings, demonstrations, speeches, and anti-war rallies. After he and two associates assaulted a police officer at the St. Patrick’s Day parade earlier this year, Lobsinger was given a sentence of two years’ probation and a $100 fine for disturbing the peace. [1] However, this run-in with the law only increased Lobsinger’s popularity among many white Detroiters.

Lobsinger and his followers believe that the civil rights movement is a Communist plot, concocted to promote black power ideology and seek vengeance against whites. Members are urged to stock up on weapons and band together to defend themselves in the event of another riot, which they view as inevitable. The group denounces whites who wish to heal the racial divide as “do-gooders and bleeding hearts.” [2]

Rumors that black power extremists are planning to deliberately target whites living in the city have driven a massive increase in gun sales. More guns were registered with Detroit PD in the first half of 1968 than in all of 1967. Breakthrough has played a major role in this, due to its encouragement to its members to arm themselves. Even the National Rifle Association has gotten involved, promoting the purchase of firearms at Breakthrough meetings. [3]

Alarmed by the spike in gun sales, Mayor Cavanagh made an appearance on TV in March to urge for a “return to sanity” [4]. He attempted to reassure the public that the “the police were prepared to prevent trouble and to attack the voices of the right and the left that were seeking to divide the city.” [5] However, the mayor’s speech did little to ease fears of white Detroiters, who are increasingly listening to radicals like Lobsinger. The mayor, who is currently embroiled in a contentious divorce, seems unable to control a city that is rapidly heading toward racial conflict.