The Howard Beach incident

Michael Griffith, a 23-year-old African-American, and two of his black friends, Cedric Sandiford and Timothy Grimes's car broke down near a local pizza parlor in Howard Beach, NY.

They walked into New Park Pizza asked to use a phone, but were refused. They then sat down to eat a slice of pizza.

A mob of white men accosted the men as they left the pizza parlor and beat them. Griffith was struck by a car and killed as he attempted to get away from his attackers.