Miami Spring Break party horror as five people shot, police crushed
Famous for its wild Spring Break parties, Miami Beach is finally standing up against the insane scenes it’s forced to endure every year.
The US city of Miami Beach has declared a state of emergency and will impose a curfew this weekend to stem a wave of violence linked to the thousands of people that descend on the region each year to party for Spring Break.
The city has already been rocked by violent and out-of-control scenes that has put left five people in hospital with gunshot wounds and a number of police officers with stampede injuries.
Miami was rocked by two separate shootings in the past few days and police have been frantically trying to keep the crowds under control and safe.
Miami Police Chief Richard Clements confirmed officers had seized a whopping 37 firearms in just three days.
While Miami has typically embraced the Spring Break festivities over the years, the city is increasingly turning against the revellers.
Speaking at a special commission meeting this morning, Tuesday afternoon local time, Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak said the region had been left with no choice.
“With great pain, both personal and professional, I ask we approve this curfew as a crowd control measure ... and as an opportunity to limit and protect our residents, tourists and protect all of the operational people we have on Miami Beach,” she said.
Ms Hudak said the city had spent six months planning for Spring Break but the crowds had been beyond their control.
“Despite all of that (planning), our reality is that this past weekend we had two back to back shootings on two nights in the middle of a massive crowd,” she said.
“We’ve had over six incidents involving guns being shot and fired and our police department finding casings.
“We’ve had nine separate incidents with officers being injured.
“We’ve had a complete situation where every law enforcement officer that's out there finds a crowd that’s disrespectful, difficult to manage and it’s really a complete compliment to the amazing wisdom and training of our police officers that we haven’t had an incident that’s escalated beyond anything we’ve witnessed and been unable to control.”
After announcing the state of emergency earlier this week, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said the city would no longer “endure” the Spring Break chaos.
“We can’t endure this anymore,” Mr Gelber said.
“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 not something we want to endure. We don’t want spring break.”
Authorities met this morning to finalise the curfew, which covers the busiest area of the city including the famous Ocean Drive, and will last from midnight until 6am Thursday through Monday.
Authorities plan to renew it next week.
Last year, police also imposed a curfew after arresting more than 1000 people over the course of six weeks for street fights and vandalism.
To avoid a repetition this year, authorities increased police presence in the busiest areas and banned bars from selling alcohol after 2am, rules that will be in place from March 7 to 21.
More Coverage
Every year in the spring months in the US, hordes of partygoers take over the Miami Beach waterfront for late-night drinking parties that can quickly turn ugly.
It is part of the collective college experience of generations of US students - but residents have increasingly opposed the social gatherings despite the contribution to the local economy.
- With AFP
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