Herman Hill riot
Encyclopedia
Herman Hill Riot was a conflict in Wichita
, Kansas
between the audience of a Ted Nugent concert in Herman Hill park and the police
on April 15, 1979, Easter Sunday. Reports cited at least 51 people were injured during the riot.
The concert began in an undeveloped park on the farthest south edge of town that was rated to hold 1,500 people, but later estimates of the crowd ranged between 3,500-5,000 people. Allegedly, the later numbers were exaggerated by police in order to justify their actions; attendees put the number closer to 1000. No one can say for sure since the concert was unannounced and free, however, normal attendance at these sorts of concerts could exceed 10,000, and there was ample space for such numbers in that highly popular "party-park".
Police claim they were responding to complaints about loud noise and drug use; but no proof of this complaint was ever shown. As news of the concert spread; mostly motorcycles, along with some cars and pickups, began parking on a section of grass which had been previously used as an overrun parking area; a common occurrence in many parts of the city at that time. But on this day police officers claimed it was illegal parking. The conflict began when Police ordered citizens to remove these vehicles from the grass after the citizens pointed out that there were no "no parking signs" and that many park users had been using that section for parking for years. Tensions escalated after the Officers who responded to the complaints allegedly became overly aggressive with an individual who they claimed was dispensing beer from the back of a pickup-truck. Even though all the Officers could find in the pickup-truck was soda drinks, they inferred their conclusions from the readily visible beer-cans. A combination of the citizens refusal to disperse, the confrontation with the pickup owner, and the fact that the responding Officers were severely outnumbered caused the officers to call for help. Without warning this second wave of Police Officers launched teargas canisters into the crowd of the law abiding concert goers who were nowhere near the originating incidents and had no idea of any confrontation occurring with the police. Many children of all ages were present and overcome with fumes. In retaliation some of the crowd began throwing rocks and bottles. A police car was overturned. In panic, many more of the concert goers--men, women and children--fled into the surrounding residential area and were taken in and sheltered for several hours by the residents there. By many accounts of concert goers, the Wichita Police Department was credited as the main instigator in what became known as the Herman Hill Riot; mostly because of their actions towards the peaceful concertgoers, which were the vast majority of those in attendance.
A suspiciously large amount of officers responded to the scene prior to their aggression, making their intent even harder to believe. As a result of the riot, 62 adults and 22 juveniles were taken into custody. Many people were injured during the riot, with reports citing 22 citizens and 31 police officers. Many law enforcement agencies in the area took part, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, and Sheriff's Offices and police departments nearby Kansas towns, including Arkansas City, Colwich, Goddard, Derby and Haysville. Representatives from a total of 22 different law enforcement groups descended on the scene. Reports cited damage related to the riot of more than $10,000. At least two citizens were shot.
There was public outcry related to the way the riot was handled by the police, and the overwhelming number of officers called to the scene. There were no lasting injuries among officers, in the end, police were not found to have broken any laws. In an interview, the city's Police Chief denied that brutality was used in quelling the riot. After the statement, a video tape was shown in which police hit citizens with batons.
In the years following the riot incident, Herman Hill Park has evolved into a neighborhood-centered and family-friendly destination. The Air Capital Disc Golf Association maintains a course in the park and hosts nationwide tournaments. The City of Wichita established a Police substation in the north east corner of the park. In 2003, the WATER Center, a groundwater remediation facility and interactive museum opened to the public. Paved trails allow visitors to the park to walk alongside a gurgling creek, view an aquarium of native fish, and watch the Arkansas River as it flows out of the city.
This event inspired a song by Manilla Road
, Herman Hill, released in 1979.http://www.gitarist.nl/bands/band.php?bandNR=745ce432ebed82d7178344224949f68d
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
between the audience of a Ted Nugent concert in Herman Hill park and the police
Wichita Police Department
The Wichita Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Wichita, Kansas, United States. WPD's jurisdiction overlaps with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.The WPD is housed at the City Hall building located at 455 N Main, Wichita, Kansas.-Mission statement:“The...
on April 15, 1979, Easter Sunday. Reports cited at least 51 people were injured during the riot.
The concert began in an undeveloped park on the farthest south edge of town that was rated to hold 1,500 people, but later estimates of the crowd ranged between 3,500-5,000 people. Allegedly, the later numbers were exaggerated by police in order to justify their actions; attendees put the number closer to 1000. No one can say for sure since the concert was unannounced and free, however, normal attendance at these sorts of concerts could exceed 10,000, and there was ample space for such numbers in that highly popular "party-park".
Police claim they were responding to complaints about loud noise and drug use; but no proof of this complaint was ever shown. As news of the concert spread; mostly motorcycles, along with some cars and pickups, began parking on a section of grass which had been previously used as an overrun parking area; a common occurrence in many parts of the city at that time. But on this day police officers claimed it was illegal parking. The conflict began when Police ordered citizens to remove these vehicles from the grass after the citizens pointed out that there were no "no parking signs" and that many park users had been using that section for parking for years. Tensions escalated after the Officers who responded to the complaints allegedly became overly aggressive with an individual who they claimed was dispensing beer from the back of a pickup-truck. Even though all the Officers could find in the pickup-truck was soda drinks, they inferred their conclusions from the readily visible beer-cans. A combination of the citizens refusal to disperse, the confrontation with the pickup owner, and the fact that the responding Officers were severely outnumbered caused the officers to call for help. Without warning this second wave of Police Officers launched teargas canisters into the crowd of the law abiding concert goers who were nowhere near the originating incidents and had no idea of any confrontation occurring with the police. Many children of all ages were present and overcome with fumes. In retaliation some of the crowd began throwing rocks and bottles. A police car was overturned. In panic, many more of the concert goers--men, women and children--fled into the surrounding residential area and were taken in and sheltered for several hours by the residents there. By many accounts of concert goers, the Wichita Police Department was credited as the main instigator in what became known as the Herman Hill Riot; mostly because of their actions towards the peaceful concertgoers, which were the vast majority of those in attendance.
A suspiciously large amount of officers responded to the scene prior to their aggression, making their intent even harder to believe. As a result of the riot, 62 adults and 22 juveniles were taken into custody. Many people were injured during the riot, with reports citing 22 citizens and 31 police officers. Many law enforcement agencies in the area took part, including the Kansas Highway Patrol, and Sheriff's Offices and police departments nearby Kansas towns, including Arkansas City, Colwich, Goddard, Derby and Haysville. Representatives from a total of 22 different law enforcement groups descended on the scene. Reports cited damage related to the riot of more than $10,000. At least two citizens were shot.
There was public outcry related to the way the riot was handled by the police, and the overwhelming number of officers called to the scene. There were no lasting injuries among officers, in the end, police were not found to have broken any laws. In an interview, the city's Police Chief denied that brutality was used in quelling the riot. After the statement, a video tape was shown in which police hit citizens with batons.
In the years following the riot incident, Herman Hill Park has evolved into a neighborhood-centered and family-friendly destination. The Air Capital Disc Golf Association maintains a course in the park and hosts nationwide tournaments. The City of Wichita established a Police substation in the north east corner of the park. In 2003, the WATER Center, a groundwater remediation facility and interactive museum opened to the public. Paved trails allow visitors to the park to walk alongside a gurgling creek, view an aquarium of native fish, and watch the Arkansas River as it flows out of the city.
This event inspired a song by Manilla Road
Manilla Road
Manilla Road are an American heavy metal band from Wichita, Kansas, founded by lead guitarist Mark 'the Shark' Shelton .- Beginnings :...
, Herman Hill, released in 1979.http://www.gitarist.nl/bands/band.php?bandNR=745ce432ebed82d7178344224949f68d