Incident Summary:
4/3/1971: Dr. R. Wiley Brownlee, high school principle and promoter of racial coexistence was struck down and kidnapped by members of the Ku Klux Klan in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Dr. Brownlee was released later in the night but not before he was tarred and feathered.
Overview
GTD ID:
197104030003
When:
1971-04-03
Country:
United States
Region:
North America
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Michigan
City:
Near Ypsilanti
Location Details:
Lover's Lane road between Plymouth and Ypsilanti Michigan
What
Attack Information
| Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
| Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
| Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
|---|
| Name of Entity |
Promoter of racial harmony |
| Specific Description |
Dr. R. Wiley Brown |
| Nationality of Target |
United States |
Additional Information
| Hostages |
Yes |
| Number of Hostages |
1 |
| US Hostages |
1 |
| Hours of Kidnapping |
2 |
| Outcome |
Hostage(s) released by perpetrators |
| Ransom |
No |
| Property Damage |
No |
How
Weapon Information
| Type |
Sub-type |
| Firearms |
Rifle/Shotgun (non-automatic) |
| Melee |
Hands, Feet, Fists |
| Weapon Details |
|---|
| The shotguns were not fired. The target was struck down either with the shotgun or by fist. |
Additional Information
| Suicide Attack? | No |
| Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
| Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
| Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
| Additional Information |
The length of the kidnapping was estimated to be two hours. In response to the attack, Dr. Brownlee jokingly stated that it made him the Blackest man in town. Robert Miles, the leader of Michigan's KKK, and four others were indicted for the attack. Robert Miles was convicted. He was also convicted for incident 197108300002. |
Who
Perpetrator Group Information
| Group Name |
Claimed Responsibility |
| Ku Klux Klan |
No |
Perpetrator Statistics
| Number of Perpetrators |
5 |
| Number of Captured Perpetrators |
5 |
Casualty Information
| Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 1 Injured |
| Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
| Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
| Total Number of Injured |
1 |
| Number of U.S. Injured |
1 |
| Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
| "High School Principal 'Tarred and Feathered,'" Atlanta Daily World, April 4, 1971. |
| "Arrest Held Stunt," Washington Post, June 24, 1972. |
| "Klan Leader Convicted," Call and Post, November 17, 1973. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties
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