May 17, 1980, riots broke out in the Liberty City and
Overtown sections of Miami after the white police officers tried in state court for
the death of black motorcyclist Arthur
McDuffie were acquitted. One of the officers was later tried in federal court and acquitted. Only minor incidents of violence broke out after this acquittal. The rioting scenario after a state court acquittal of white officers would be repeated even more violently in 1992 with the Rodney King Riots.