A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest citizen uprisings in United States history. The story is centered around The Algiers Motel Incident, which occurred in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1967, during the racially charged 12th Street Riot. In addition, the book that the movie is based on is the most-documented event of police brutality during the riots. It involves the death of three black men and the brutal beatings of nine other people: seven black men and two white women. John Boyega plays Melvin Dismukes, a security guard that gets caught up in the riots. Will Poulter plays David Senak, one of the three white police officers that end up being on trial for murdering the men.