What was Stonewall Riot?
The Stonewall riots, also known as stonewall uprising, was a series of immediate demonstration of the gay community. The Stonewall riots began in the initial hours of June 28, 1969. It occurred when the New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The stonewall riots are widely regarded as a watershed event that transformed the gay liberation movement and 20th-century fight for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender rights in the United States.
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What was The Stonewall Uprising Or Stonewall Riots?
The homeless LGBTQ teens, trans women of color, lesbians, drag queens, gay men, and allies all decided to take a stand in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Uprising initiated out as an all-too-routine police raid of the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York City transformed into a multi-night uprising on the streets of Greenwich Village. It wasn’t the first time when LGBTQ people fought back and organized against brutality, but the Stonewall uprising exploded a mass movement that rapidly spread throughout the U.S. and around the globe.
Why is The Reason Behind The Police to Raid The Stonewall Inn?
Starting in 1934, after the end of Prohibition, the New York State Liquor Authority regulated liquor licenses, which prohibited the serving of alcohol in “disorganized” establishments. The presence of gay people was regarded as de facto disorderly. This gives rise to the regular raids of gay bars and clubs by the police. They’d arrest patrons and managers discriminately, imprison the cash register and alcohol, and hook up the front door. The police, Mafia, and State Liquor Authority officials are typically bribed by the police for protection, so they were tipped off in advance of an imminent raid and would sometimes turn up the lights to warn patrons to stop any open displays of affection or slow dancing, which could risk arrest.
What Happened at The Stonewall Inn in 1969?
In 1969, people observed as LGBTQ faced a different form of discrimination. In the U.S. they were finding it difficult to marry their beloved partners or adopt children. They were also not permitted to work for the federal government. These are just a few examples of how laws are set for LGBTQ. In some places, including New York City, it was even illegal to serve LGBTQ and people consuming alcohol. Due to this the Stonewall Inn, a renowned gathering place for the LGBTQ and community, was often visited by police. It was usual for law enforcement to manifest unanticipated at the inn.
Once there, the police arrested the owners, employees, and many customers. The police officers arrived at the Stonewall Inn on June 18, 1969, at about 1:00 a.m. They put several people in handcuffs. But something drastically changed after that. Rather than exiting the area, the people were inside the Stonewall Inn assembled just outside. It wasn’t well before they were joined by residents of the nearby locality. Together, the group of almost 600 people disagreed against the police and also against the laws they imposed. Soon, the protest turned into a riot. People set fire to the garbage cans, threw stones, and destroyed property.
The police officers took them home and waited for support. 13 people were eventually arrested. The Stonewall Uprising resumed for a total of six nights. Thousands of people gathered to support the unfair treatment of LGBTQIA. A few emerged as leaders of the movement. One among them was Marsha P. Johnson, who was a Black transgender woman and an activist for LGBTQIA. Marsha P. Johnson was joined by her friend, a transgender Latina woman named Sylvia Rivera.
Together, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera ran to open STAR House, a social space for unhoused LGBTQ, including youth and others. Although the Stonewall Uprising took place in New York, its impacts were observed far and wide. On June 28, 1970, thousands of LGBTQ and other individuals walked up in New York City on the anniversary of the riots. This was observed as the first Pride Parade in the U.S on that day. Communities all over the U.S. celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month annually in June. Across the Globe, many other countries also celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month in June and at other times in other countries.
FAQs on The 1969 Stonewall Riots
1. What were the 1969 Stonewall Riots?
The Stonewall Riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising, were a series of spontaneous demonstrations that began on June 28, 1969. They were a direct response by members of the gay community to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City. This event is widely considered the single most important catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States.
2. Why was the Stonewall Inn targeted by police before the 1969 riots?
The Stonewall Inn was frequently targeted for several reasons rooted in the systemic discrimination of the era.
- Anti-Gay Laws: New York State laws made it illegal to serve alcohol to gay people, and same-sex dancing was prohibited.
- Mafia Ownership: The bar was owned by the Mafia and operated without a proper liquor license, making it an easy target for police raids and extortion.
- Community Haven: Despite the risks, it was one of the few safe spaces for the most marginalised members of the gay community, including drag queens, transgender people, and homeless youth, to gather openly.
3. What is the importance of the Stonewall Riots in history?
The historical importance of the Stonewall Riots lies in their role as a turning point for the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Before Stonewall, activism was often quiet and focused on assimilation. After Stonewall, the movement became much more visible, vocal, and confrontational. Its key impacts include:
- The formation of activist organisations like the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA).
- The organisation of the first Pride marches in several U.S. cities on the first anniversary of the uprising in 1970.
- A fundamental shift in public consciousness, galvanising a generation to fight for liberation and equal rights rather than just tolerance.
4. Who were the key figures involved in the Stonewall Uprising?
While the uprising was a collective action with no single leader, several individuals are recognised for their prominent roles and activism. Key figures include Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and activist; Sylvia Rivera, a Latina-American transgender activist; and Stormé DeLarverie, a biracial butch lesbian whose scuffle with police is often cited as a flashpoint. The resistance was led by the community's most marginalised members, including trans women of colour, drag queens, and street youth.
5. How long did the Stonewall Riots last?
The initial confrontation began in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 28, 1969. However, the protests and clashes with law enforcement did not end that night. The demonstrations continued with varying intensity for approximately six days, solidifying the event as a sustained rebellion rather than a single-night incident.
6. Were any people killed during the Stonewall Riots?
There were no recorded fatalities among the protestors or the police as a direct result of the clashes during the Stonewall Riots. While there were numerous arrests and injuries on both sides, the events were not marked by direct deaths. The resistance was characterised by thrown objects, property damage, and physical confrontations, but not lethal force from either side.
7. Why are the events at Stonewall called a riot, an uprising, and a rebellion?
The terms used to describe the events at Stonewall reflect different perspectives on their nature and significance:
- Riot: This term accurately describes the violent, spontaneous clashes between the crowd and the police.
- Uprising/Rebellion: These terms are preferred by many historians and activists because they frame the event not as simple lawlessness, but as a purposeful and political act of resistance against decades of police harassment, societal persecution, and discriminatory laws. It highlights the moment the community fought back collectively.
8. What happened to the Stonewall Inn after the 1969 riots?
Shortly after the uprising, the original Stonewall Inn closed down. Over the following decades, the building housed various businesses, including restaurants and shops. The bar was reopened in different configurations over the years. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the surrounding streets as the Stonewall National Monument, recognising it as a historic landmark and the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
