The Crown Heights riots were a series of violent clashes that occurred in August 1991 in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The unrest began after a car driven by a member of the Lubavitcher Hasidic community struck and killed a young Black boy named Gavin Cato. This incident sparked outrage and led to protests, escalating tensions between the Hasidic community and local African American residents. The situation intensified over several days, resulting in violence, looting, and confrontations with police. The riots highlighted underlying racial and cultural tensions in the area, drawing national attention to issues of race relations and community dynamics in urban America.