1989 Miami riot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1989 Miami riot |
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| Part of Race riots in Miami | |||
| Date | January 16–21, 1989 | ||
| Location |
Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods, Miami, Florida
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| Caused by | Police shooting; general frustration | ||
| Methods | Riot, property destruction, looting | ||
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| Casualties | |||
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The 1989 Miami unrest was a series of events that happened in Miami, Florida. It began after a police officer, William Lozano, shot Clement Lloyd. Lloyd was riding a motorcycle and trying to get away from another officer. He was also trying to run over Officer Lozano.
After the shooting, the motorcycle crashed into a car. Clement Lloyd and his passenger, Allan Blanchard, both died. This event led to four days of unrest in the Overtown area.
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What Caused the Miami Unrest?
The unrest started on January 21, 1989, in Overtown. The next day, it spread to Liberty City. These areas are neighborhoods in Miami. People were upset about the shooting and other issues.
How Did the City Respond?
During the unrest, schools in the affected areas were closed. Police set up a special zone covering 130 blocks. They used teargas to control the crowds. This helped to calm the situation.
What Happened to Officer Lozano?
Officer William Lozano faced a trial for the shooting. He was found responsible for the deaths of Lloyd and Blanchard. This was a very important case. It was one of the few times a Florida police officer was found responsible for a shooting while on duty.
Why Was There a New Trial?
Later, Officer Lozano was given a new trial. The court decided the first trial should not have happened in Miami. They felt that strong feelings in the city might have affected the jury. The appeals court also thought the jury might have been worried about more unrest if they did not find Lozano responsible.
The new trial took place in Orlando, Florida. In this second trial, Officer Lozano was found not responsible for the deaths.
