Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
The Start of Stonewall
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 22, 2009
Modified Jun 22, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 22, 2009
Modified Jun 22, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (as they have come to be known) is coming up on June 28th, as the city celebrates the LGBT community. Now a website called Out History has published the police records from that historic event, tracing the riots to the initial incident which brought police to the Stonewall Inn. (They also make note of the Village Voice's "Contemptuous Attitude Toward the Gay Community" at the time.)
Seems that a resident of the neighborhood and owner of a 1968 Volkswagen filed a complaint with the Sixth Precinct station house saying her car, which was parked across from the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street, was “stomped on" at around 2 a.m. on June 28th (full document after the jump). CityRoom notes that this incident happened at the beginning of the uprising, "the six-day series of disturbances that began as a protest by gays against police harassment and became a defining moment in the gay-rights movement."
The site posted 9 previously unpublished pages of documents which were released by the NYPD in response to a Freedom of Information Law request. They help to piece together the riots, which have not been very well documented. On that note, a documentary about (and called) The Stonewall Riots will be screening at the New York Public Library tonight (more info in our newsletter).
Tagged
gay rights
lgbt
nypd
police reports
stonewall riots
uprising
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.
The state commission on judicial conduct said Judge Jeffrey A. Gershuny “acknowledged that his conduct was improper,” and added that he was “apologetic and cooperative.”
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. ET
The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too
Here's a look at designs for a redeveloped park, including new amenities, landscaping and other improvements.
By
Willow Higgins
News
The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too
Here's a look at designs for a redeveloped park, including new amenities, landscaping and other improvements.
By
Willow Higgins
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate
By
Jon Campbell
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
By
Giulia Heyward
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .