Miami extended its highly unusual curfew at 8 pm to calm the crowds of riotous rebels who flocked to the festive city, defying the security rules of COVID-19.
People pass the Miami Beach police after arresting a person along Ocean Drive on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
City officials voted to extend the curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for a week during a last-minute meeting on Sunday – the day after interim mayor Raul Águila declared a state of emergency.
People gather as they leave the area when the 8 pm curfew comes into effect on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.Joe Raedle / Getty Images
More than 1,000 party-goers were arrested, with more than half out of state, Aguila said. He added that many are coming “to get involved in lawlessness and a ‘anything goes’ party attitude.”
A woman leaves the area when the 8 pm curfew takes effect on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Police place a person in a prisoner transport van after arresting him on Ocean Drive on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Miami Beach law enforcement officers keep people out of the area, as the 8 pm curfew was established on March 21, 2021.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
People leave the area when the 8 pm curfew comes into effect.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
People walk along Ocean Drive on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
A Miami Beach police officer patrols Ocean Drive on March 21, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
College students arrived in the South Florida area for the annual spring break ritual, prompting city officials to impose a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am, while the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
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Authorities have warned that the curfew, along the famous South Beach, could extend until April, if necessary.
They also noted that the spring breaker crowd was not the usual crowd of college students – but adults looking to get loose in one of the few states that were fully open during the pandemic.
Over the weekend, police trying to enforce the unorthodox curfew used pepper balls to contain the crowd – causing a stampede.
