A case of “better late than never?” NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill is officially apologizing for the police raid on the Stonewall Inn in June 1969. The raid, which took place 50 years ago on June 28th, sparked riots. Those riots ended up being a catalyst for the gay rights movement.
Speaking at a briefing on security for Pride Month, O'Neil said it would be “irresponsible” for him during World Pride Month not to speak of the events at the Stonewall Inn. Stonewall and the small park outside are now part of a national monument.
It’s worth noting that over the years, a number of city officials have expressed regret over what happened – but this was the first outright apology ever given. "It took 50 years to get an apology for this? It's just amazing. It's unfathomable to me," Mark Segal, a gay activist and journalist who was at the Stonewall Inn during the raid, tells NPR. “This means a lot to LGBT youth. Some of them want to go into law enforcement, and this can make them feel welcome."
Source:NPR