The Harlem Riot of 1964, also known as the Harlem Rebellion of 1964, was a period of unrest and civil disobedience that took place in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The riot began on July 16, 1964, after a 15-year-old African American teenager named James Powell was shot and killed by a white off-duty police officer, Lieutenant Thomas Gilligan.

This incident sparked outrage and frustration among the black community in Harlem, who had long been subjected to police brutality and racial discrimination. The unrest quickly escalated into rioting, looting, and clashes with law enforcement officers. The riot lasted for six days and resulted in extensive property damage, injuries, and arrests.

The Harlem Riot of 1964 highlighted the deep-seated racial tensions and social injustices faced by African Americans in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement era. It also brought attention to the need for police reform and greater accountability in law enforcement practices. Despite the violence and destruction that occurred during the riot, it served as a turning point in the fight for civil rights and paved the way for greater awareness and activism in the struggle for racial equality.