The riots were spurred by the imprisonment of Thornton and Rutha Blackburn, an African-American couple that had escaped slavery in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1831.
[1] Rutha Blackburn was smuggled out by two African-American women, and the following day, a mob formed outside the jail, demanding the release of Thornton.
[1] White Detroiters, angered by the escape of the Blackburns, retaliated by assaulting African Americans in the street and burning many of their buildings.
[1] Following the riots, a set of city-wide ordinances were issued, including a mandated bond payment of $500 for every African-American resident.
[1] Due to the increased risk of being separated from their families, slave flight to the North became popular during this time.
[3] Thornton, on the other hand, did not recognize him, and the two struck up a conversation, in which Rogers found out that another escaped slave, Rutha Blackburn, was living with him.
[3] For unknown reasons, Rogers waited two years, until the summer of 1833, to report the slaves’ whereabouts to the Kentucky authorities.
[2] Later, when this was discovered, French was told she would have to permanently take Rutha's place to compensate for the loss of a female slave.
[2] The next day, 17 June 1833, a large, armed mob gathered outside the jail, demanding that the sheriff release Thornton Blackburn.
[4][2] During the confusion, Thornton was smuggled from the jail and delivered to a boat which took him and many of his supporters to Canada, where he would join his wife.
[1] They assaulted African-American men and women in the streets and burned down over 40 buildings belonging to African Americans.
[1] The struggle continued into July as a march was organized to demand the release of the jailed protesters who had not been charged of any crimes.
[1] With the rioting dispersed, Mayor Chapin, with the advice from the Detroit city council, issued several city-wide rulings.
[1] The Michigan law of 1827 was reinforced, "requiring blacks to register and post bond with the clerk of the county court".
[1] Upon arriving in Canada, Thornton and Rutha Blackburn were arrested and put in jail in Sandwich, Windsor, Ontario.