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| Stonewall Riot Apology: Police Actions Were ‘Wrong,’ Commissioner Admits | Stonewall Riot Apology: Police Actions Were ‘Wrong,’ Commissioner Admits |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] | [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| “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 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. | “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 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 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. |
| 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. |
| “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. | “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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” |