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Stonewall Riot Apology: Police Actions Were ‘Wrong,’ Commissioner Admits Stonewall Riot Apology: Police Actions Were ‘Wrong,’ Commissioner Admits
(about 1 hour later)
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New York’s police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, apologized on Thursday on behalf of the Police Department for the actions of officers during the Stonewall riot, a seminal 1969 clash outside a Greenwich Village club that is widely regarded as a turning point for the modern gay rights movement. It was a long-awaited apology half a century in the making.
The commissioner made his comments at Police Headquarters during a safety briefing related to World Pride month, an annual celebration of L.G.B.T.Q. culture that is taking place in New York this year, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The New York police commissioner on Thursday said he was sorry on behalf of the Police Department for the actions of officers during the Stonewall uprising, the 1969 clash outside a Greenwich Village bar that is widely regarded as a turning point for the modern gay rights movement.
“The actions taken by the N.Y.P.D. were wrong — plain and simple,” the commissioner, James P. O’Neill, said during an event at Police Headquarters.
Several lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders called the commissioner’s remarks important and unexpected, if overdue.
“It’s a historic acknowledgment of the discriminatory and violent actions of the N.Y.P.D. against L.G.B.T.Q. people,” said Richard Saenz, an attorney at Lambda Legal, a national civil rights organization. Still, Mr. Saenz cautioned, “The history of police violence and criminalization of L.G.B.T.Q. people sadly continues to this day.”
Mr. O’Neill’s mea culpa came as people around the globe observed Pride month, a celebration of L.G.B.T.Q. culture
Politicians and L.G.B.T. leaders had stepped up their calls for Mr. O’Neill to apologize in recent months, urging a public reckoning as New York hosts the World Pride event, a global gathering that is taking place in the city this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
During a safety briefing related to World Pride at Police Headquarters, the commissioner offered the formal apology that Police Department officials, including Mr. O’Neill himself, had said for years was unnecessary.
“I think it would be irresponsible to go through World Pride month and not to speak of the events at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969,” Mr. O’Neill said. “I do know what happened should not have happened.”“I think it would be irresponsible to go through World Pride month and not to speak of the events at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969,” Mr. O’Neill said. “I do know what happened should not have happened.”
“The actions taken by the N.Y.P.D. were wrong — plain and simple.”
“The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize,” he added.“The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize,” he added.
The auditorium erupted in applause.The auditorium erupted in applause.
“We have, and we do, embrace all New Yorkers,” he said.
The Stonewall uprising began after midnight on June 28, 1969, when the police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.
The police said they were there because the bar had violated liquor laws. But the Stonewall patrons, fed up with longstanding harassment at the hands of law enforcement, decided to push back. The Stonewall uprising began shortly after midnight on June 28, 1969, when officers with the now-defunct Public Morals Squad raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.
The police said they had arrived to disperse the bar’s patrons because the Stonewall Inn had violated liquor laws.
But their behavior that night would quickly become a stain on the department and a galvanizing force for the L.G.B.T. movement.
“They came in the bar. They slammed people against the wall. They shoved people, and they hurled insults that you can probably imagine,” said Mark Segal, 68, who participated in the protests that night.
Stonewall patrons, fed up with longstanding harassment at the hands of law enforcement, pushed back.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who were forced out of the bar that night taunted the police. Some threw bottles and stones. Days of street protests followed, resulting in arrests, injuries and property damage.Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who were forced out of the bar that night taunted the police. Some threw bottles and stones. Days of street protests followed, resulting in arrests, injuries and property damage.
On Wednesday, Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker who is gay, had suggested in a radio interview on 1010 WINS that it was time for the Police Department to apologize for its behavior. On Wednesday, Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker, who is gay, had suggested in a radio interview on 1010 WINS that it was time for the Police Department to apologize for its behavior. On Thursday, Mr. Johnson thanked the commissioner for his words. “This is so wonderful to hear during Pride,” he said.
“I think it would be an important step toward further healing and reconciliation, and recognizing what happened in that crucial moment,” Mr. Johnson said. On Thursday, Mr. Johnson thanked the commissioner for his words. “This is so wonderful to hear during Pride,” he said.
[For World Pride, The Times wants to capture the spectrum of how people talk about identity. Tell us who you are in 10 words or less.][For World Pride, The Times wants to capture the spectrum of how people talk about identity. Tell us who you are in 10 words or less.]
Mr. O’Neill’s comments marked a remarkable moment in the city’s history, a long-awaited acknowledgment of the Police Department’s role in harassing gays in past decades. In the 1960s, it was common for the police to raid gay bars, arrest cross-dressers and harass customers, often on the pretext of cracking down on prostitution or other organized crime activities. Mr. O’Neill’s comments signaled a remarkable moment in the city’s history, a long-awaited acknowledgment of the Police Department’s role in harassing gays in past decades. In the 1960s, it was common for the police to raid gay bars, arrest cross-dressers and harass customers, often on the pretext of cracking down on prostitution or other organized crime activities.
The clash began at the Stonewall Inn after eight officers and an inspector arrived at the club and ordered about 200 people to line up and show their identification. Some were asked to submit to anatomical inspections. A crowd gathered outside, shouting “gay power.” The clash began at the Stonewall Inn after eight officers and an inspector arrived at the club and ordered about 200 people to line up and show their identification. Some were asked to submit to anatomical inspections. A crowd gathered outside, shouting “gay power.”
L.G.B.T.Q. rights activists have pushed the Police Department to issue an apology in the past, but officials had declined to do so. The Police Department had resisted calls for an apology in the past. In 2016, at a news conference discussing security for that year’s Pride March, William J. Bratton, the commissioner at the time, said he did not believe an apology was necessary.
In 2016, at a news conference discussing security for that year’s Pride March, William J. Bratton, the commissioner at the time, said he did not believe an apology was necessary.
“There is no denying that out of that terrible experience came so much good — that it was the tipping point, if you will,” Mr. Bratton told reporters. “So I think we should all celebrate that out of that terrible experience, a lot of good came.”“There is no denying that out of that terrible experience came so much good — that it was the tipping point, if you will,” Mr. Bratton told reporters. “So I think we should all celebrate that out of that terrible experience, a lot of good came.”
The following year, a day after the Pride March, Mr. O’Neill also declined to apologize. “I think that’s been addressed already,” he said. “We’re moving forward.” The following year, a day after the Pride March, Mr. O’Neill also declined to apologize. “I think that’s been addressed already,” he said. “We’re moving forward.”