New York City Police Commissioner apologises for Stonewall raid in 1969
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
New York Police Commissioner James P O’Neill has apologised on behalf of the Stonewall raid that kickstarted the Stonewall Riots.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of when the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn and sparked the Stonewall Riots, which are considered the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
New York City council speaker Corey Johnson called for the NYPD to apologise for the unprovoked raid and now during a safety briefing at the police headquarters, commissioner O’Neill vowed it would never happen in 2019.
He said: “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.
“I do know what happened should not have happened. The actions taken by the NYPD were wrong, plain and simple.
“The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize.”
“I vow to the LGBTQ. community that this would never happen in the NYPD in 2019,” he added. “We have, and we do, embrace all New Yorkers.”