What was it? The riots happened at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The fight, the result of a failed raid by police, escalated in a violent fashion, with hundreds of protesters outnumbering officers, throwing bricks and beer bottles, and setting the bar on fire. Four officers were hurt in the melee.
Why this was big Before this altercation, the gay rights movement had not fought back against the police officers who had gone out of their way to shut down bars they frequented and attacked gays and lesbians. The riot was spontaneous and a culmination of dealing with years of abuse. Simply put, they got sick of having to live in fear.
The end resultThe altercation, which created tensions for days afterward, led to organization that the LGBT movement didn’t have until that point. Every major moment of the gay rights movement – including protests, gay-themed publications, gay pride parades and the rise of Harvey Milk – can trace its roots to that night. source
