[Vision2020] Forty Years Ago Today (June 29, 1969)

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of About.Com (Manhattan, New York) at:

http://manhattan.about.com/od/glbtscene/a/stonewallriots.htm

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The Stonewall Riots
New York’s Stonewall is a Landmark in Gay History
By Pamela Skillings, About.com

The Stonewall is an unassuming little bar in Manhattan’s West Village that
has become a true landmark in gay history. Forty years ago, the New York
gay community rose up here in a riot that sparked the modern gay rights
movement.

The Stonewall Riots

In the summer of 1969, the New York gay activist movement was born when a
group of gay New Yorkers made a stand against raiding police officers at
The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in the Village. In those days, gay
bars were regularly raided by the police. But on June 27, 1969, the
patrons of The Stonewall Inn had had enough.

As the police raided the bar, a crowd of four hundred patrons gathered on
the street outside and watched the officers arrest the bartender, the
doorman, and a few drag queens.

The crowd, which eventually grew to an estimated 2000 strong, was fed up.
Something about that night ignited years of anger at the way police
treated gay people. Chants of “Gay Power!” echoed in the streets. Soon,
beer bottles and trash cans were flying.

Police reinforcements arrived and attempted to beat the crowd away, but
the angry protesters fought back.

By 4AM, it looked like it was over. But the next night, the crowd
returned, even larger than the night before. For two hours, protesters
rioted in the street outside of the Stonewall Inn until the police sent a
riot-control squad to disperse the crowd.

On the first night alone, 13 people were arrested and four police officers
were injured. At least two rioters were said to be severely beaten by the
police and many more sustained injuries.

The following Wednesday, approximately 1000 protesters returned to
continue the protest and march on Christopher Street. A movement had
begun.

The Stonewall Legacy

Stonewall turned out to be a pivotal moment in the gay rights movement. It
united the gay community in New York in the fight against discrimination.
The following year, a march was organized in commemoration of the
Stonewall Riots and between 5,000 and 10,000 men and women attended the
march.

In honor of Stonewall, many gay pride celebrations around the world are
held during the month of June, including New York City’s Gay Pride Week.

Today, the Stonewall bar is once again a popular gay night spot in New
York City. Occupying part of the original Stonewall Inn, the bar attracts
plenty of locals and out-of-towners aiming to pay tribute to a gay New
York landmark.

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Photos

The Stonewall Inn

http://tinyurl.com/StonewallInn

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At Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street, a few yards away from the
Stonewall Inn, crowds tangled with police for several nights in late June,
1969.

http://tinyurl.com/Stonewall01

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In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969 several police officers, not
wearing their uniforms, burst into the Stonewall Inn (a noted hangout for
the homosexual community) and announced that they were taking the bar.
This sort of raid was not uncommon for the time, as it was still
completely legal for the police to persecute and even arrest some people
found in known gay bars.

http://tinyurl.com/Stonewall02

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom "Free to be you and me" Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown