Rubin Carter
The Hurricane.
Rubin “the hurricane” Carter was a professional middleweight boxer from Clifton New Jersey. He had a rough upbringing and was the fourth of seven children in a low income family. Carter got into trouble with the law as a youngster and was sent to a JDC for assault at eleven. He escaped from the detention center and enrolled for the US army. After basic training Carter was sent to Germany where he began to box and make a name for himself.
Carter went to prison again 1956 when he was deemed unfit for service in the army. It was here that Carter decided to box professionally taking the world by storm.
Eventually fame became one of Carters weaknesses because on the 17th of June 1966 he and fellow black man John Artis were framed for a triple murder they didn't commit.
Statements made to police by white locals said they saw to black men jump into a getaway car after leaving the scene.
At an identity parade none of the claimed witnesses identified Carter or Artis as the criminals. Police then told the witnesses that they believed Carter and Artis were behind the killings. This prompted the witnesses to change their statement to suit the two men.
Carter and Artis had their Dodge searched by Police 45 minutes after the shooting. The detective (Emil DiRobbio) found a live point 32 caliber pistol round under the front seat and a 12-gauge shotgun shell in the boot. They were both arrested. This was the beginning of the framing of the two men.
The arrest had a big impact on many people one of which being Bob Dylan who wrote the song hurricane. Dylan was sure Carter was innocent because in the song he wrote “Meanwhile, far away in another part of town Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are driving around Number one contender for the middleweight crown Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down.” This shows that Dylan thought Carter and Artis were far away from the scene at the time of the murder, he also believes that the men had no idea what had happened.
The song spread Dylan’s views throughout the country and the world sparking outrage in the black and white communities. This helped to spread the now apparent views that the Police used unlawful and violent techniques to frame and injure the black communities in America all through the 60s right the way to the 80s and beyond.
The Marches calling for the release of Rubin Carter showed the world the unity of the Black communities around the world. Many major black celebrities attended the marches in Washington including fellow boxing legend Muhammad Ali.