Stonewall Rises: Gay Liberation Movement Ignites
Patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York, fought back against a police raid on June 28, 1969, sparking six nights of protests that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Police raids on gay bars were routine, but on this night, patrons refused to comply. The first resistance came from a transgender woman (possibly Marsha P. Johnson or Stormie DeLarverie) who struck a police officer after being hit with a baton. The crowd threw bottles, coins, and bricks. Police barricaded themselves inside the bar. The following nights saw thousands of protestors gathering in the Village. The Stonewall uprising transformed a community accustomed to hiding into one demanding visibility. The first Gay Pride marches were held on the anniversary in June 1970, establishing the tradition of annual Pride celebrations worldwide.
June 27, 1969
57 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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