The NYPD Apologized For Its Anti-LGBTQ Actions At Stonewall, 50 Years Later

As the LGBTQ community celebrates pride this month, New York’s police department is expressing regret for raiding a popular gay bar in 1969 — a move that ultimately resulted in activists launching the modern gay rights movement to fight discrimination. The NYPD apologized for the Stonewall Inn events, stressing that the raid should have never occurred.

New York’s police commissioner, James O’Neill, issued the apology during a Pride Month safety briefing on Thursday. In his remarks, per the New York Times, O’Neill condemned the "oppressive" nature of the Stonewall raid, saying:

The Stonewall Inn raid occurred on June 28, 1969. On that day, New York City’s police department sought to hold the bar accountable for supposed liquor law violations, according to NBC News. However, the bar’s patrons resisted the raid, as they were fed up with regular police harassment of the LGBTQ community, the New York Times reported.

As the Washington Post described, during the raid, many people quickly gathered outside the bar, with some throwing coins and trash to express their indignation at how officers treated the gay community. This collective action against the police served as the catalyst for several more days of protests and riots, which collectively became known as the Stonewall Uprising.

As History.com noted, the Stonewall Uprising is perceived by many as a launching point for the modern gay rights movement, as it sparked the creation of the Gay Liberation Front (a multi-group advocacy initiative) and various other LGBTQ organizations. Notably, Pride Month is also celebrated every June to commemorate the transformative power of the Stonewall Uprising, the Library of Congress noted.

More to come …

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