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Miami Beach Orders Curfew And State Of Emergency Over Shootings And ‘Unruly’ Spring Break Crowds

03/20/2023
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Topline

The city of Miami Breach on Sunday declared a state of emergency and announced an overnight curfew after two deadly shootings and “excessively large and unruly crowds,” as the popular spring break destination deals with an influx of tourists.

Key Facts

In a video, Miami Beach mayor Dan Gelber said the apparently unrelated Friday and Saturday shootings—which left two people dead—were “caused by visitors to Miami Beach and not residents,” and it is clear that “an unprecedented police presence” could not prevent the incidents.

A curfew will be put in place from 11:59 p.m. on Sunday to 6 a.m on Monday in the popular South Beach neighborhood of the city, and businesses have been instructed to serve their last customers of the day and to close by that time.

Hotels can still operate during that time frame, and certain businesses like restaurants can operate through delivery methods only.

Sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. on Sunday.

A meeting will be held on Monday to discuss the possibility of implementing these same measures from Thursday to Monday next weekend.

FacebookMessage from the Mayor – Emergency Curfew | Despite unprecedented police presence, for two consecutive nights Ocean Drive has been the scene of deadly shootings. So, tonight, Sunday March 19, we… | By Mayor Dan Gelber | Facebook

Crucial Quote

“We don’t ask for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city,” Gelber said. “It’s too rowdy, brings too much disorder and is simply too difficult to police.”

Key Background

This is not the first time Miami Beach—a longtime tourist haven on an island east of Miami—has taken action amidst spring break. In 2021, a similar curfew was implemented amid a massive influx of revelers. Roughly 1,000 people were arrested and nearly 100 guns were seized. Last year, the city implemented a curfew when two shootings left five people wounded. “This isn’t your father’s, your mother’s spring break. This is something totally different. We don’t ask for spring break, we don’t promote it, we don’t encourage it, we just endure it, and frankly it’s something we don’t want to endure,” Gelber said at the time.

Further Reading

Miami Beach Declares State Of Emergency Amid Spring Break Chaos (Forbes)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/03/19/miami-beach-orders-curfew-and-state-of-emergency-over-shootings-and-unruly-spring-break-crowds/