The Harlem Riot of 1964, also known as the Harlem Rebellion of 1964, occurred in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The riot was sparked by the killing of a 15-year-old African American boy named James Powell by a white off-duty police officer, Lt. Thomas Gilligan, on July 16, 1964. The shooting took place after an altercation between Powell and Gilligan, during which the officer claimed he was defending himself.

The outrage over Powell's death, as well as long-standing grievances about police brutality, systemic racism, and economic inequality in the predominantly Black community of Harlem, led to several days of protest, unrest, and clashes with law enforcement. Rioters burned buildings, looted stores, and clashed with police officers, resulting in injuries, arrests, and significant property damage.

The Harlem Riot of 1964 highlighted the deep-seated issues of racial injustice and discrimination faced by African Americans in the United States during the civil rights era. It was part of a larger wave of urban uprisings that occurred in cities across the country during the 1960s, reflecting African Americans' frustration with systemic inequalities and the lack of progress in achieving civil rights and economic opportunities.