Revisit: HUNTER’S POINT, SAN FRANCISCO UPRISING (1966)

The Hunter’s Point Uprising in 1966 began on September 27 and lasted for three days.  At that time, it was the largest riot in San Francisco, California since the anti-Chinese riots almost 90 years earlier.  The uprising began when police chased and attempted to arrest three teenagers—Darrell Mobley, 14; Clifton Bacon, 15; and Matthew “Peanut” Johnson, 16—who were joyriding in a stolen car in Hunter’s Point, a mostly black neighborhood at the southeast corner of San Francisco.  After their car stalled, the teenagers split up and ran from the police.  Police officer Alvin Johnson gave chase and, according to an official city report, told Matthew Johnson to “Stop! Hold it, or I’m going to shoot!”  Unarmed, Matthew Johnson continued to run and Officer Johnson shot him four times killing him almost immediately. Continue reading Revisit: HUNTER’S POINT, SAN FRANCISCO UPRISING (1966)