On March 2, 1962, the premiere of the Broadway musical West Side Story was marred by violence in New York City. Protests erupted against the portrayal of Puerto Rican immigrants in the musical, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police. The riot reflected deeper racial and ethnic tensions in the city during the early 1960s. The violence forced the cancellation of the show for several days. The incident highlighted growing unrest among minority communities and contributed to future conversations about racial representation in media.