Page 13 - Reflections On Pine

Understanding our Community & our Civil Rights History • The Fire on Pine Street: July 24, 1967
– July 23rd, 1967, H. Rap Brown, Chair of (SNCC) visits and gives speech
• Chaos breaks out and shots and tear gas are fired
• H. Rap Brown is grazed by bullet and smuggled out of
town
• Later that evening, the vacant beloved elementary school is set on fire
• The Fire Dept. is notified but refused to extinguish the fire or provide equipment
• The fire begins to spread from building to building and then across the street
• African Americans watch in horror as the heart of their community goes up in flames