Stonewall Riots Research Paper

All over the world, including in the United States, people face discrimination, inequality, and violence based on who they are. In the short story “A Letter to Harvey Milk” by Lesléa Newman, readers encounter characters that advocate for the rights of minorities, particularly Harvey Milk. Though Harvey Milk didn’t participate in dialogue throughout the short story, he had an immense impact on not only the two main characters Harry and Barbara, but the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community as well.

However the streets didn’t remain clear for long. The following night, the protesters returned. In contrast to the previous night's protests Saturday’s protests were not as chaotic and violent. In an article about the riots Truscott said that there were gay cheerleaders leading the crowd in gay power cheers "We are the Stonewall girls/ We wear our hair in curls/ We have no underwear/ We show our pubic hairs!"

for some time, the bar successfully evaded prosecution by paying police sums of money every week to not press charges. It was not a very sanitary or safe establishment, but it was the only gay bar in New York City to allow dancing. The clientele was diverse; a mix of races, ages, and economic status. When a bar was raided, police confiscated liquor, and arrested employees, customers, and management. The lights would be turned on and patrons were lined up and their identification was checked. Those dressed in drag were often arrested on the spot. On June 28th 1969, the Inn was raided by police, but it did not go as they indented. People refused to show police their ID, and they decided to take those in drag to the police station. While waiting for police vehicles to move those individuals to the station, people kicked out of the bar and bystanders began to congregate outside of the Inn. Some 150 people had gathered and tensions had risen. They began throwing bottles at officers and the crowd developed a mob mentality that required riot police. The demonstration and retaliation that followed resulted in being one of the most important events in the gay liberation movement and progress of LGBT rights in America. The protest lasted days after the raid, and resuted in local residents starting activist groups and places being made for gays and lesbians to be confident and safe in their

African Americans were suffering from the Jim Crows and grandfather clause that barred them from voting and equal access to public accommodations. Some notable historical events was the Montgomery Bus boycott and the Greensboro sit-ins. The Montgomery Bus boycotts occurred after the arrest of Rosa Parks after she sat in the white section of the bus. This incident has received national attention for the persistent of Rosa Parks to sit at the whites section. There has been boycotts leading after. The Greensboro sit-ins was where four students sat on a white-only counter. The sit-ins has inspired sit-ins across the nation to bring national change. An activist, Luther King Jr. has advocated equal rights through peaceful protest. King has led The March on Washington in 1963 was where “I Have a Dream” speech was made. This speech has inspired many African Americans and has gathered the media attention. Marches throughout the country has ignited government upheaval and urged the nation to recognize the rights of blacks. Through the protests, African Americans had obtained their long sought rights.

Until the 1960s Americans of the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and other) community were discriminated against and had limited rights. On June 28th, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, A popular gay bar in New York City (Greenwich Village), members of the LGBT+ community was harassed by policemen that night. Outraged civilians rioted until the early morning and had violent protest and demonstrations that lasted 6 days, the Stonewall Riots became a major turning point for gay rights in the United

The Rodney King Riot happened in Los Angeles in the year of 1992. Rodney King was an African American male who was arrested on charges because of speeding, drunk driving, and refusing to stop his vehicle. Four police officers who have claimed to have witnessed King’s actions such as being high on drugs and was trying to attack them explains why they did what they did. A resident nearby by the name of George Holliday captured about 12 minutes of the attack on film. King was tasered, brutally beaten with side-handled batons, then forced to the ground to lie still which was where he was handcuffed. The four officers were brought to court and tried on charges of assault.

The deadliest race riot in the United States occurred between May 30 and June 1, 1921. The city of Tulsa grew from 10,000 to 100,000 in just 11 years (3.) Down town Tulsa offered all white residents anything from furniture stores to speakeasies (3.) Segregation forced African Americans to create their own community. This community was known as Greenwood or "The Black Wall Street" (2.) Greenwood was the most prosperous African American community, they had everything down town did, even a hospital (3.) However, over a 24 hour period a total of 300 people were dead, 35 five blocks of Greenwood burned, and thousands of blacks were homeless (1and3.) The violent actions of this time were all due to the allegation made against a black male causing him to be imprisoned (3.) Segregation is the leading cause of the

Before becoming an established LGBT community, people in these sector fought a long way in order to give themselves an identity and a space on society. During the 1950’s wherein the LGBT community weren’t brave enough to voice out there concern, they were only called as “third gender”. A lot of social movements like African-American Civil Rights Movement, Counterculture of the 1960s and Opposition to United States involvement to Vietnam war occurred during the 1960’s which made the LGBT community to fight their own call to end discrimination. The Stonewall Riots is the most important event of the gay community in fighting their own rights which led to a massive gay liberation movement. It was held on June 28, 1969 in Stonewall Inn at Greenwich Village at Manhattan City, New York. Stonewall Inn is owned by Mafia and it provided a home of drag queens, transgenders, effeminate young men, butch lesbians, male prostitutes and homeless youth. It was considered as the most poor and marginalized people in the gay community. A year after of a series of demonstrations and riots, it was June 28, 1970 when the first Gay Pride March was held in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. In today’s society, a lot has changed in terms of representing the LGBT and I believe that their community has now a solid foundation. But, it does not stop there. We still call to end discrimination, abuses and violence to the LGBT people. Discrimination and non acceptance of the LGBT is still

Could you ever possibly imagine a time where you couldn’t use the same bathroom as some of your classmates because the had a different skin color? This time in history was known as the Civil Rights Movement, a movement from 1954-1954, in which people fought against racism. Although the Civil Rights Movement mainly affected African Americans, but involved all of American society. Because most racism against ancient African Americans took place in southern United States, civil rights was extremely important to African Americans who lived in the south. Racism was so widely spread it even found its way into professional sports. “Many college student activists sacrificed or postponed their formal education”. (Youth Civil Rights Movement) Samuel Younge Jr., Jackie Robinson, and Ramsey Clark are famous civil rights activists because of their courage and bold actions during the Civil Rights Movement.

From the mid 1910s to the early 1960s there were many riots that occured, because of racial tensions built up between the the whites and the blacks world wide. Coming from Will Brown being accused of rapping a young white girl, and to Eugene Williams having rocks thrown at him causing him to drown. Segregation at this time was unjustified due to racism still being heavily considered as the right thing to do. These riots caused the United States to be even more segregated, due to unequal rights and no laws being created at the time to help and protect African Americans. During these riots there were cases of police brutality and whites being able to do whatever they choose to do, because they felt as if it was a justified reason to stop the African Americans from rioting. The 1919 Race Riot

In 1963, the admirable March on Washington was an important catalyst aiding in the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Interestingly enough, African-Americans were not the only people who cared about civil rights, but whites as well, hence the 75,000 whites that took a stance at the March on Washington. The March on Washington tested the dedication of many people around the world as they traveled to the Lincoln Memorial in hope of finalizing the discrimination and segregation of African-Americans. The March on Washington, a non-violent protest against segregation, aided in the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made African American lives more fair and respected.

began the New York Gay Activist movement. Which eventually spread to other parts of the country…. I very much doubt they know the impact of their decision to stand firm that day in 1969, but it’s because of those people that gay rights exist in this country today,” Lynley Wayne, LGBT Writer. Everyday people are trying to stand up for themselves. Dating back to 1969 Stonewall Rebellion and even further to the 1692 Salem Witch trials. These events have the same thing in common, someone one would hunt others down, it was considered a crime, and someone thought others caused it.

“In countries with a properly functioning legal system, the mob continues to exist, but it is rarely called upon to mete out capital punishment. The right to take human life belongs to the state. Not so in societies where weak courts and poor law enforcement are combined with intractable structural injustices. “In our present day society we as Americans have the cognitive dissonance that what the courts say are final, but also hold to the fact that the majority’s opinion rules. In recent news we have seen massive riots following the killings of African American men by caucasian police officers. These all follow after one of the most prominent not guilty verdicts of the 21st century on the Rodney King beating. With these riots we see the words of Teju Cole begin to take life.

Detroit City, the motor capital of the world, was roaring with jobs in 1943. Black’s from the South migrated North in search of jobs, new homes, and opportunities. In a prominent white area, the migration of blacks was not wanted. Segregation was still present throughout the U.S. Contrary to popular belief, the first largest race riot in Detroit on June 20th, 1943, was started by whites.

On April 29, 1992, A week of non stop urban violence and mayhem erupted in the streets and cities of Los Angeles, the riots were commenced by the unjust trial that let the four white police officers set free of any charges. All four officers were captured on videotape beating on a black motorist named, Rodney King after a traffic stop gone wild. The Rodney King riots impacted society greatly by presenting the nations people with an understanding of how racism was still present in america. A reminder that "justice for all" was still a long way off being set in stone and to followed by most people. When the justice for Mr King was not given rightfully, the people from the streets who went through alike problems hear about it, they immediately want change. From gang members who initiated the truce that helped decrease street violence, to the average high school student being active in protest around the city, the riots were portrayed heavily by the people affected by the beating. At these times, around the clock news and live television coverage followed but also in Ice Cube’s “The Predator” and Rodney King 's speech to the city of Los Angeles.