In 1967, the first Black mayor of Saginaw, Michigan convenes a meeting of civil rights leaders to address grievances, while Detroit, 100 miles to the south, is engulfed in race rebellion. Many more residents want to be a part of the meeting but are locked out. Some gather for a sit-in at a busy intersection up the road from City Hall.

Riot police arrive to disperse the protesters and follow some groups into nearby neighborhoods. The police surround a house where several dozen unarmed Black people have gathered and fire into it, injuring seven of the occupants.

Saginaw is consumed with chaos for the evening, with looting and arson, and unrest continues for weeks to follow. The mayor meets with more community representatives, establishes a jobs program and signs an open housing ordinance.