Flashback: In 1971, the KKK tarred and feathered Willow Run High School's principal

Flashback: In 1971, the KKK tarred and feathered Willow Run High School's principal

Judith Fruitig
Special to the Free Press



This story ran in the Free Press on April 3, 1971.


For a while Thursday night, the principal of Willow Run High School thought he was going to be burned to death.

He had been stopped on a dark, lonely road by a group of black-hooded men.

They pulled him out of his car and knocked him to the ground. He could see a five-gallon bucket and thought it was filled with gasoline.

....(snip)....

Ambushed on lovers’ lane

Dr. Brownlee, who is white, has been principal of Willow Run High School near Ypsilanti since last September. Twice this year, the school has closed after racial battles between students, and bad feelings exist throughout the blue-collar community. ................(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/10/22/willow-run-high-school-principal-kkk/71218981007/