The Crown Heights riots or Crown Heights pogrom happened on August 19 – August 22, 1991 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, USA, located to the east of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ...

The riots, also named as a pogrom by some Jews, began on August 19 when a Lubavitch Hasidic Jewish motorist struck and killed Gavin Cato, a seven-year-old African American boy. The motorist was part of a motorcade accompanying the last rebbe of Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson from a visit to the grave–side and site of his father–in-law and previous rebbe Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Allegations of speeding are mired in confusion; speed estimates given by witnesses range from 25 mph to 65 mph [1]. Moreover, violent and riotous sentiments among the witnesses diminish the credibility of testimony. For the rock band Riot see Riot (the band) Riots in Newark, New Jersey Riots occur when crowds of people have gathered and are committing crimes or acts of violence. ... A pogrom (from Russian: погром, meaning wreaking of havoc) is a massive violent attack on a particular ethnic or religious group with simultaneous destruction of their environment (homes, businesses, religious centers). ... Chabad Lubavitch, also known as Lubavitch Chabad, is a large branch of Hasidic Judaism. ... Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity; and often a combination of these attributes. ... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... A procession of cars carrying VIPs, especially political figures. ... Rebbe (Hebrew: רבי also rebbi) is a title that may be given to a rabbi in Orthodox Judaism, particularly within Hasidic Judaism. ... Rabbi M.M. Schneerson The third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty was also named Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (with a h) Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902-June 12, 1994), referred to by Lubavitchers as The Rebbe, was a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ...

An angry mob of African American and local youths began assaulting Jews in the neighborhood, the population of which was about 130,000 blacks and 20,000 Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews; in one such attack, Yankel Rosenbaum, a 29–year–old rabbinical student visiting from Australia, was stabbed to death, and an undetermined number of Jews were seriously injured as the assaults continued for four consecutive nights. A non–Jewish motorist who had apparently gotten lost in the neighborhood, Anthony Graziosi, was also fatally attacked, presumably because he had a full beard and was wearing dark clothing and was thus mistaken for a Hasidic Jew. Fires were set and shops were looted as the riot grew out of control and as the mob's rage continued. African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ...

Then mayor David Dinkins was criticized for his poor handling of the events and lost many votes as a result of this when he ran for, and lost, the race to continue as New York City's mayor. David Dinkins David Dinkins David Norman Dinkins (born July 10, 1927) was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993, the first (and to date only) African American to hold that office. ...

Yankel Rosenbaum was able to identify his assailants before he died and several men were arrested and eventually tried for the stabbing. Professor Norman Rosenbaum, Yankel Rosenbaum's brother from Australia, continued to pursue the legal case over the years and received the support of New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and most of the New York media. Rudy Giuliani Rudolph William Louis Rudy Giuliani III KBE (born May 28, 1944) served as the Mayor of New York City from January 1, 1994 through December 31, 2001. ...

The Orthodox Union (a non–Hasidic Orthodox organization) had this to say about Giuliani's efforts: OU logo. ...

"The legal action that was pursued by victims of the Crown Heights riots of 1991 sought nothing more than justice and compensation for the victims who suffered injury and damage during those riots. By settling this legal action on behalf of the City with an apology for its failure to adequately protect the Jews of Crown Heights from the rioters and monetary compensation toward the injuries sustained by the victims, Mayor Giuliani is properly discharging the highest responsibilities of the mayoralty. By taking these steps, Mr. Giuliani has clearly demonstrated this City's commitment to providing equal protection and justice for all of New York's communities." Full statement

External links

• Harvard Research Publication on the Crown Heights Riot and its background
• The Crown Heights Riot and Its Aftermath. Article
• Three Days of Riots Forgotten: Political Will in Short Supply
• Crown Heights Riot Suspect Sentenced
• In Crown Heights, a Decade of Healing After Riots, but Scars Remain