The 1989 Miami riot exposed racial tensions between Miami's Black community and its police department, coinciding with Super Bowl XXIII.
Key Facts
- Shooting date
- January 16, 1989
- Riot end date
- January 19, 1989
- Police cordoned area
- 130 blocks blocks
- Victims killed
- Clement Lloyd (23) and Allan Blanchard (24)
- Officer charged
- William Lozano, convicted then acquitted on retrial
- Concurrent event
- Super Bowl XXIII hosted in Miami
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On January 16, 1989, Miami Police Department officer William Lozano shot Black motorcyclist Clement Lloyd, who was fleeing police over an alleged traffic violation. Lloyd died instantly; his passenger Allan Blanchard died the following day. Many African American residents believed the shooting was racially motivated and not an act of self-defense.
Rioting erupted almost immediately in Overtown and spread to Liberty City the next day, both predominantly Black neighborhoods. Schools were closed, police cordoned off a 130-block area, and crowds were dispersed with tear gas. The unrest continued until January 19, 1989, drawing international attention due to Miami's role as Super Bowl XXIII host city.
Officer Lozano was convicted of manslaughter in Miami but was granted a new trial on grounds of improper venue and evidentiary issues. An appeals court overturned the conviction, arguing the jury had been influenced by fears of further unrest. A retrial in Orlando resulted in acquittal. The case remained a landmark in Florida law enforcement accountability until 2015.
Political Outcome
Officer Lozano was initially convicted of manslaughter but acquitted on retrial in Orlando; the riots prompted debate over police use of force and racial bias in Miami.