On this day, May 17, in 1980, rioting erupted in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami after an all-white jury acquitted four former police officers of fatally beating black businessman Arthur McDuffie.
McDuffie, 33, was beaten until his skull cracked after he ran a red light and lead police on a chase on his motorcycle.
Four officers were indicted for manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
The trial for the officers was moved to Tampa, Fla., because of the racial tensions. The lead prosecutor was Janet Reno, later the U.S. Attorney General.
The acquittals sparked three days of riots.
Firefighters stopped trying to put out more than 200 fires after snipers shot at them.
Eighteen people died, and more than $100 million in damage was caused by the violence.
— Scott McCabe
