The Detroit Riot of 1967 was sparked by long-simmering racial tensions and economic inequality. It began when police raided an unlicensed bar, arresting 83 people. Angry crowds gathered and protests turned violent over the next several days. The National Guard and Army troops were called in to restore order, but not before extensive property damage and 43 deaths occurred. The riots exposed deep divisions in Detroit and were reflective of unrest in other urban areas during the civil rights era.