The United States federal government's responsibilities for civil rights of African Americans were not set in stone, and caused much debate in deciding what actions to take in the 1960's. Police brutality due to racism was the main issue and it wasn't sure what the rights of the federal government were relating to this. The actions of the federal government involved largely ignoring most police brutality.
In Detroit, during the 1960s the “Big Four” or “Tac Squad” roamed the streets, searching for bars to raid and prostitutes to arrest. These elite 4 man units frequently stopped youths who were driving or walking through the 12th street neighborhood. They verbally degraded these youths, calling them “boy” and “nig***”, asking them who they were and where they were going. Most of the time, black residents were asked to produce identification, and having suffered their requisite share of humiliation, were allowed to proceed on their way. But if one could not produce “proper” identification, this could lead to arrest or worse.