The early morning of June 28, 1969 might just be another trivial date for most of us. But for the LGTBQ++ community, this date bears much more significance–holiness even. It’s because on this night, the Stonewall Riots began–a revolution that had left its permanent mark in the history of human race. The “Stonewall Riots,” or also known as the “Stonewall Uprising,” is a series of riots which lasted for 7 days and is now credited to be the genesis of the modern LGBT movement.
It was past one in the morning when police force attempted to raid the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, for alleged lack of liquor license. On the contrary, people knew that the police raids were not spontaneous but were mere manifestations of crackdown on gay bars. Truth is, it was just prejudice and discrimination. But the 28th of June 1969 was no night of tolerance and submission, the gay community decided they have had enough and was adamant in changing the narrative, once and for all.
In commemoration of this momentous event in LGBT history, here are some photos of what went down during the seven-day Stonewall Uprising:
The Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village, New York, USA.
Source here. By Richard Drew/Associated Press.
A “plea for peaceful and quiet conduct” message written outside the window of Stonewall Inn.
Source here. By Diana Davies/The New York Public Library.
As the night of June 28, 1969 grew deeper, so did the determination of the gay community to resist attacks from the police force. A human barricade began to form, front-lined by queer trans people of color.
Source here. By New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images.
A total of 13 arrests were made on the first night (June 27, 1969), 6 arrests on the second night (June 28, 1969), and 3 arrests on the third (June 29, 1969). On the remaining days of riots that followed, there were no more arrests made.
Source here. By Everett/Rex Shutterstock.
On the 5th day of the Stonewall Uprising, a large number of crowd gathered outside the Stonewall Inn.
Source here.
After almost 7 days, the Stonewall riot eventually came to an end with the police having a hard time containing the crowd because of the tricky geometry of the neighborhood’s streets. Here, a group of queers pose in happiness and pride outside the Stonewall Inn for the success of the riots.
Source here. By New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images.
Shortly after the Stonewall Riots, the Gay Liberation Front was formed and the first mass rally in support of gay rights took place in New York.
Source here. By New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images / Photograph: Diana Davies / The New York Public Library.
Known to be among the first to fight back against the police are self-identified drag queens and trans activists, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
The first anniversary after the Stonewall riots was marked by the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day, the first Pride March in the history of the United States.
Source here. By CNN.
49 years after the Stonewall riot, the mark it left is still felt and seen not just by the LGBTQ++ community but by everyone. You see, gay liberation didn’t come and certainly wasn’t simply given while wrapped in a rainbow flag with a side of hot chocolate and ice cream; it was fought for. What was once believed as a futile battle of peace and equality was achieved through collective action and deeply-rooted determination. The Stonewall riot was a revolution that was years in the making and well, it was goddamn worth it. And when the time comes yet again, that gays and gay rights will be held against the wall, you best be sure that the revolution is on.
by Kim Reosora
Cover Image by Diana Davies / The New York Public Library
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