An Analytical Collation of
Accounts and
Documents
Recorded in the Year 1969
Concerning
the Stonewall Riots
Editing and commentary © David Carter 1999, 2002, 2003, 2009
Friday Night, June 271
Cause of Riots: Context
There Had Been a Series of Bar Raids
Leitsch:2 The first gay riots in history . . . were touched off by a police raid on the
popular Stonewall Club, 53 Christopher Street. This was the last (to date) in a series of
harassments which plagued the Village area for the last several weeks.
1
In this collation of published and unpublished texts written in 1969, the one substantial inconsistency I
find in the accounts is in the order of three related incidents: 1) police officer Gil Weissman's injury, 2)
Dave Van Ronk's arrest, and 3) the retreat of the police inside the Stonewall Inn, setting off the full fury of
the crowd gathered outside. Since the account by RAT and Truscott's account in the Village Voice both
have the crowd fully erupting only after the police retreat inside the Stonewall (and in the RAT account, this
follows an account of an arrest that sounds much like the arrest of Dave Van Ronk), and as I have found the
account given by Seymour Pine to David Isay (1989?) to be generally reliable, and as Pine insists in that
account both that officer Weissman was injured and that Pine arrested Van Ronk before Pine ordered his
men to retreat into the Stonewall, and as this simple and minimal change in chronology of these few events
makes essentially all the accounts of the riots by witnesses written in 1969 agree, I have decided to accept
Truscott's, RAT's, and Pine's chronology on this point, changing the chronology of Howard Smith's account
on these three items to agree with that of the former.
2
The Leitsch account is taken from the July 1969 issue of the Mattachine Society of New York Newsletter
(MSNYN hereafter) except for underlined segments for Friday through Sunday nights only, which come
from the August 1969 issue of the same publication and is a rewrite of the July version with some new
information added. (In other words, the July version ends on Sunday evening; the August version is a new
redaction of the July version, adding some new bits of information for Friday through Sunday, and covering
Monday through Thursday nights as well.) To be more precise, Leitsch wrote a leaflet called "The Hairpin
Drop Heard Around the World," an account of the riots handed out in the street during the riots. As he
explains in the August 1969 MSNYN about the account printed there of Friday to Sunday nights, "The above
was abridged from a leaflet, 'The Hairpin Drop Heard Round the World,' a detailed and wildly amusing
account of the first part of the Christopher Street Riots. It was the first detailed account available, having
beaten the newspapers to the full story. Copies were mailed with most of the last issue of the Newsletter,
continued on the following page…
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
Eskow3: A predawn police raid, the second . . . within a week . . .
Truscott4: Cops entered the Stonewall for the second time in a week just before
midnight on Friday.
EVO5: On Tuesday night, June 25, (sic: Tuesday was the 24th) the Stonewall Inn
on Christopher Street was raided by the brave, stick-swinging pigs. The Stonewall has
more or less become a gay institution in the Village, and has survived as such for the past
three years or so. All of a sudden, however, the pigs decided to start playing political
games on the fags, because when did you ever see a fag fight back? . . . Now, times are achangin'. Tuesday night was the last night for bullshit. On Wednesday and Thursday
nights grumbling could be heard among the limp wristed set. Predominantly, the theme
[w]as, "this shit has got to stop!”
Levin6: For three successive nights last week, hundreds of young homosexuals
flung rocks, bottles and fists at cops stationed in Sheridan Square after police twice raided
the Stonewall.
. . . In the past few weeks, the police have raided a number of homosexual bars
and after-hours joints, especially those in the Village.
Liscoe7: The Stonewall raid was not the only reason for incidents occurring on
that great and glorious weekend. In the last three weeks five gay bars in the Village area
that I know of have been hit by the police.
Spencer8: The Stonewall doesn't seem to be the isolated, sudden case that the
…continued from the preceding page
but some Newsletters had been mailed before the rioting started, so if you didn't receive a copy, send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope to MSNY, and we'll mail you one."
At the end of the "Hairpin" account is an essay on the riots by Dick Leitsch titled "GAY RIOTS."
It is referred to above as "Leitsch Riots."
I do not use Leitsch's account from the September Los Angeles Advocate because it is a very
lightly edited reprint of "The Hairpin Drop Heard Around the World."
The title of the August account is "Gay Riots in the Village." The July account and essay is
published only with the signature "dl" at the end of "GAY RIOTS"; the August account use's Leitsch's
pseudonym, Price Dickinson.
The August MSNYN also includes two articles analyzing the riots from both the police and the gay
points of view, the police point of view being based upon a meeting the police requested with the
Mattachine Society of New York after the riots. These pieces, titled "The Stonewall Riots[:] The Police
Story" (pp. 5–6) and "The Stonewall Riots[:] The Gay View," (pp. 13–14), are referred to above as "Leitsch
Police Story" and "Leitsch Gay View."
3
The Dennis Eskow account is from the Sunday [New York Daily] News, June 29, 1969, p. 30, with the
headline "3 Cops Hurt As Bar Raid Riles Crowd."
4
The Lucian K. Truscott IV account is on the front page of the July 3, 1969 issue of the Village Voice,
titled "Gay Power Comes to Sheridan Square."
5
The East Village Other account by Ronnie Di Brienza is titled “Stonewall Incident,” and appears in the
July 9, 1969 issue, vol. 4, no. 32, p. 2.
6
The Jay Levin article, "The Gay Anger Behind the Riots," appears in the New York Post, July 8, 1969, p.
36.
7
References to Liscoe are from a letter to the editor signed by a Kevin Liscoe published in the July 10,
1969 Village Voice, p. 4.
8
References to Spencer are from Walter Troy Spencer's Last Call column in the July 10, 1969 issue of the
continued on the following page…
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
publicity has made it out to be. Hasn't there been some sort of crackdown on for a while?
The Snakepit, the fag after-hours joint, was raided a month ago.
Ladder9: the police raided the Stonewall Inn . . . They had previously closed The
Sewer and The Checkerboard, also gay bars within the territory of the Sixth Precinct; but
this was the first raid during peak hours, when the bar was jammed.
. . . . Since the SLA refuses to issue licenses to gay bars, these bars are generally
run without licensing, under unsanitary conditions, serving watered drinks at outrageous
prices—and are therefore a perfectly legitimate target of police raids. During ordinary
times, the police have allowed these bars to operate, overlooking violations in return for a
percentage of the take.
NYT10, June 29: The raid was one of three held on Village bars in the last two
weeks, Inspector Pine said.
The Raid on the Stonewall Inn Took Place During an Election Campaign
Ladder: During election years, these bars become the target for raids and
roundups of homosexuals.
New York Post, July 8: “You usually figure when there’s a raid that someone
didn’t pay off the precinct,” one Stonewall regular said. “But these busts were arranged
higher up. So there’s a feeling that its just [Mayor] Lindsay trying to out law-and-order
those other two guys.”
Leitsch July 1011: I don't know who runs the Stonewall, and I don't care. It has
run for several years now, and the cops have tried to put it out of business with raids
before. They evidently couldn't substantiate the charges, and the place reopened. Now
they're just harassing the place which means they're harassing the customers, as well.
It's time for the local elections and, as usual at that time in the Village,
homosexuals are being harassed on the streets by the cops, the clubs are being raided, and
even the legitimate, licensed bars have been bothered by the cops. This year,
homosexuals are sick of being election issues. In the old days, Ed Koch used to call the
police to the Village every election campaign and many would be entrapped. Now that
that's no longer possible, the bars and clubs are being bothered.
The gay crowd put up with it before because we were too weak and unorganized
to do anything about it. Now we're finding our muscle and we're not going to be
scapegoats and election issues any more.
General Pattern of Harassment
…continued from the preceding page
Village Voice, titled "Too much my dear," a highly insulting piece, p. 36. It is the only piece of writing
from 1969 to suggest that Judy Garland's death played a role in causing the Stonewall Riots, and does so
with vicious tongue in cheek.
9
This account, entitled “Gay Power in New York City,” is in the October-November 1969 issue of The
Ladder, p. 40. Note the reference to the raid taking place "when the bar was jammed," which seems to
suggest that the article's author felt that the large number of patrons present may have helped cause the
uprising.
10
NYT stands for the New York Times.
11
"Leitsch July 10" refers to a letter by Dick Leitsch published in the July 10, 1969 Village Voice letters to
the editor column on p. 49.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
Jackson:12 Tensions within New York City's gay community were increased
greatly following a long series of incidents beginning early in June. A park in Queens
had become a popular night playground for neighborhood straight youths, who frequented
the park late at night to play a popular game called "Rolling queers," which means
beating and robbing night strollers in the park. . . . When the vigilantes found that the
gays could not be shoved around so easily13, they . . . completely defoliated the park.
This last incident happened on June 15 and was reported as front-page news . . . two
weeks later.
Tensions were further heightened by many incidents of police harassment of
individuals and by raids on three of the most popular gay clubs in the nation. The raids
and incidents were the main topic of conversation at the Stonewall Club in the early
morning hours of June 28, 1969. Everyone felt angry and edgy. Many hostile and
derogatory remarks about the police were overheard. A nervous anxiety seemed to
pervade the usually friendly crowd.
Leitsch Riots: The "Christopher Street Riots" marked a first in the history of
homosexuals. . . .
One bar too many had been raided, one group of homosexuals too many had been
harassed, and it required more than 200 cops to restore order. Many of the demonstrators
promised the cops that "it'll be a long hot summer," and it may well be. . . .
If that happens . . .
Part of the blame will lie with corrupt cops who shake down gay bars for the
privilege of staying open, and then when the political climate dictates, raid the bars to
which they have sold protection.
Some of the blame must be borne by the community which tolerates such
corruption. And a large portion of it will go to Donald S. Hostetter and the State Liquor
Authority, the most corrupt agency in the State of New York . . .
The SLA refuses licenses to operators of gay bars, then has gay clubs closed
because they don't have licenses. [Summary of how the SLA harasses gay bars, making it
so "no legitimate business man can survive in the business of providing a gay bar or
club."]
After thus making it impossible for an honest man to stay in business, the SLA
and the cops close the bars that do exist, on the grounds that the owners have "underworld
connections." Thus, the police and SLA officials, because of their bribe-taking, are de
facto partners in whatever criminality does exist.
When the bars and clubs are put out of operation, the cops complain that there are
too many homosexuals on the streets and start their campaigns of harassment.
Where do they expect us to go to congregate and make a social life?
12
This is from Don Jackson's article, written in the Viewpoint column, of the October 1969 Los Angeles
Advocate, titled "Reflections on the N.Y. Riots," p. 11.
13
Note this evidence of increasing—and seemingly unexpected—gay assertiveness.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
New York Post, July 314: Flyers distributed by the Mattachine Society . . . said the
disorders showed that “gay people are reaching the end of their patience.”
The Sixth Precinct Had Just Gotten a New Police Captain
Ladder: The raids in the Sixth Precinct are believed to have been triggered off by
the presence of a new captain, who wishes to make his reputation as a “law-and-order”
man during a conservative year by “cleaning up the Village.”
Leitsch Police Story: A little probing on our part elicited the information that the
6th Precinct got a new commanding officer about six weeks before the rioting. That rang
a bell, because that's about how long the harassment had been going on.
White15: The cops raided the Stone Wall, that mighty bastille which you know has
remained impregnable for three years, so brazen and so conspicuous that one could only
surmise that the Mafia was paying off the pigs handsomely. Apparantly, (sic) however, a
new police official, Sergeant Smith (sic: should be Smyth), has taken over the Village,
and he's a peculiarly diligent lawman.
Rodwell16: The purported reason for the raid was the Stonewall's lack of a liquor
license. Who's kidding whom? Can anybody really believe that an operation as big as the
Stonewall could continue for almost 3 years just a few blocks from the 6th Precinct house
without having a liquor license? No! The police have known about the Stonewall
operation all along. What has happened is the presence of new "brass" in the 6th Precinct
which has vowed to "drive the fags out of the Village."
The Stonewall Inn Clientele and Its Loyalty to the Club
Levin: . . . in a precarious though enormously profitable business, the Stonewall
stands as a monument to longevity and police-wise management. It survived 2 ½ years
before being busted, making it the mecca of the gay night life. Behind its blackedout (sic)
windows, the gay young men drank, danced and made attachments with a confidence that,
at last, they had found sanctuary.
"It was the best place we ever had," Dick Kanon, 22, remarked as he ambled down
Christopher St. Male prostitutes slouched in the doorways along the way, watching with
quick eyes for potential "friends."
"Most gay people are extravagantly paranoid. If there was ever a place that cured
that, it was the Stonewall. You felt safe among your own. You could come down around
here without fear of being busted or of being beaten up by some punk out to prove his
masculinity to himself. Around here, we outnumber the punks."
Leitsch Gay View: Coming on the heels of the raids of the Snake Pit and the
Sewer, and the closing of the Checkerboard, the Tele-Star and other clubs, the Stonewall
raid looked to many like part of an effort to close all gay bars and clubs in the Village. It
may be true that the Checkerboard and Tele-Star died without police assistance. (It is
said that the woman who managed the Checkerboard came in one night, ordered all the
14
This article, titled "Cop Injured 5 Seized in Village," has no byline. Obviously the quoted flyer was not
distributed on Friday, but I place it here as the text pertains to the cause of the Uprising.
15
The quotes from Edmund White are from the future novelist's July 8, 1969 letter to Ann and Alfred Corn.
16
Quotes from Craig Rodwell are from a leaflet Rodwell wrote and handed out in the street during the
Stonewall riots titled "Get the Mafia and the Cops out of Gay Bars." Rodwell issued the flyer in the name
of HYMN, the Homophile Youth Movement, an organization he founded.
5
03/08/16 3:03 AM
customers out of the place, cleaned out the cash register and called the police to get rid of
those customers who stayed around.) It is very likely that the Sewer and the Snake Pit
were raided because they had no licenses, as the police said.
But how are people in the street and the customers of the places to know that?
The police don't bother to explain or send press releases to the papers (and when they do,
the papers make it seem that the bar was raided because it was gay.) . . .
Since 1965 the homosexual community of New York has been treated quite well
by the City Administration and the police have either reformed or been kept in line by
Lindsay and Leary. . . . .
Now we've walked in the open and know how pleasant it is to have self-respect
and to be treated as citizens and human beings.
. . . We want to stay in the sunlight from now on. Efforts to force us back in the
closet could be disastrous for all concerned.
The above, while a true evaluation of the situation does not explain why the raid
on the Stonewall caused such a strong reaction. Why the Stonewall, and not the Sewer or
the Snake Pit? The answer lies, we believe, in the unique nature of the Stonewall. This
club was more than a dance bar, more than just a gay gathering place. It catered largely to
a group of people who are not welcome in, or cannot afford, other places of homosexual
social gathering.
The "drags" and the "queens", two groups which would find a chilly reception or a
barred door at most of the other gay bars and clubs, formed the "regulars" at the
Stonewall. To a large extent, the club was for them. . . . Apart from the Goldbug and the
One Two Three, "drags" and "queens" had no place but the Stonewall. . . .
Another group was even more dependent on the Stonewall: the very young
homosexuals and those with no other homes. You've got to be 18 to buy a drink in a bar,
and gay life revolved around bars. Where do you go if you are 17 or 16 and gay? The
"legitimate" bars won't let you in the place, and gay restaurants and the streets aren't very
sociable.
Then too, there are hundreds of young homosexuals in New York who literally
have no home. Most of them are between 16 and 25, and came here from other places
without jobs, money or contacts. Many of them are running away from unhappy homes
(one boy told us, "My father called me 'cocksucker so many times, I thought it was my
name."). Another said his parents fought so much over which of them "made" him a
homosexual that he left so they could learn to live together.
Some got thrown out of school or the service for being gay and couldn't face
going home. Some were even thrown out of their homes with only the clothes on their
backs by ignorant, intolerant parents who'd rather see their kid dead than homosexual.
They came to New York with the clothes on their backs. Some of them hustled,
or had skills enough to get a job. Others weren't attractive enough to hustle, and didn't
manage to fall in with people who could help them. Some of them, giddy at the openness
of gay life in New York, got caught up in it and some are on pills and drugs. Some are
still wearing the clothes in which they came here a year or more ago.
Jobless and without skills—without decent clothes to wear to a job interview—
they live in the streets, panhandling or shoplifting for the price of admission to the
Stonewall. That was the one advantage to the place—for $3.00 admission, one could stay
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
inside, out of the winter's cold or the summer heat, all night long. Not only was the
Stonewall better climatically, but it also saved the kids from spending the night in a
doorway or from getting arrested as vagrants.
Three dollars isn't too hard to get panhandling, and nobody hustled drinks in the
Stonewall. Once the admission price was paid, one could drink or not, as he chose. The
Stonewall became "home" to these kids. When it was raided, they fought for it. That,
and the fact that they had nothing to lose other than the most tolerant and broadminded
gay place in town, explains why the Stonewall riots were begun, led and spearheaded by
"queens".
Time Raid Began17
Truscott: Cops entered the Stonewall . . . just before midnight on Friday.
EVO: Come Friday night, early Saturday AM, the pigs decide they are going to do
it again.
Leitsch: Plainclothes officers entered the club at about 2 a.m.
Eskow: at 2 a.m., plainclothesmen, under direction of Inspectors Seymour Pine
and Charles Smyth, moved in
NYT, June 29: Hundreds of young men went on a rampage in Greenwich Village
shortly after 3 A.M. yesterday after a force of plainclothes men raided a bar
NYT, June 30: The raid had been staged early Saturday
Police Log: At 1:20 AM 6/28/69 at 53 Christopher St, The Stonewall club. 1 Div
Ptrl entered premises
RAT18: About 1:30 Saturday morning, I happened along Sheridan Sq. with a
friend looking for a beer when we saw a crowd gathered outside the Stonewall, a famed
gay bar. We walked over to see what was happening. We tried to find more information
“How many arrests?” I asked. “A few,” What happened inside” I pursued. “About 1:15
they came, but they kept the music and dancing going so’s not to get everyone up.”
Identity of Police Officers Who Instigated the Raid19
EVO: So into the Stonewall goes Inspector Smyth, Inspector Pine, four fuzz and
two policewomen . . . and the bust was on.
17
Truscott's is the only Voice account to address the time the raid began, and as the Voice accounts of the
Stonewall riots are the best-known accounts, I conclude that most people have simply assumed all these
years that the time Truscott's gave was correct, leading to the belief in the critical distinction that while the
raid began on June 27, resistance began in the early morning hours of the 28th. The mere 5-minute
separation between the police log time and the time published in RAT seems remarkably strong
corroboration to me, especially in light of so many other reports placing the time as after midnight. Unless
strong new evidence comes forward to challenge these data, I conclude that both the raid and resistance to it
began early in the morning of June 28, that is, not before midnight on the 27th.
18
The RAT account, with no byline, “Queen Power: Fags Against Pigs in Stonewall Bust,” appeared in the
July 9–23, 1969 issue, Vol. 2, No. 14, p. 6.
19
The initial raiding party was either 4 policemen and 2 women or 6 policemen and 2 women. I am
inclined to think it was the 2 undercover policewomen sent in before the raid began and 4 policemen
because of Truscott's precision about the numbers and categories of the officers: he gives numbers, sexes,
and rank.
7
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Police log: D.I. Smyth 1 Div at scene, D.I. Pine 1 Div at scene20
Leitsch: Police, led by Inspectors Smythe (sic) and Pine
White: Sergeant Smith, has taken over the Village, and he's a peculiarly diligent
lawman.
White: about ten cops21 raided the joint.
Truscott: It began as a small raid—only two patrolmen, two detectives, and two
policewomen were involved.
Laurence22: The pigs first moved in last Friday with six squad cars for a “small”
raid, according to underground reports.
Smith23: [Pine plus] his force of eight detectives, two of them women. To make
certain the raid plans did not leak, it was made without notifying the Sixth Precinct until
after the detectives (all from the First Division) were inside the premises. Once the bust
had actually started, one of Pine’s men called the Sixth for assistance on a pay phone. 24
Levin: The current raids were conducted by the vice squad and kept secret from
local precincts to prevent leaks.
Initial25 Raiding Police Officers Wore Plainclothes
Leitsch: Plainclothes officers entered the club at about 2 a.m.
NYT, June 29: a force of plainclothes men raided a bar . . . Plainclothes men and
detectives confiscated cases of liquor
NYT, June 30: Plainclothes men . . . confiscated cases of liquor and beer.
Eskow: Customers and villagers swarmed over the plainclothes cops. . . .
Plainclothesmen . . . moved in
RAT: About 3-400 guys were . . . taunting several pigs in plainclothes guarding
the entrance. . . . A few plainclothesmen were surveying the crowd, obviously panicked.
New York Post, July 3: last Saturday . . . plainclothes police raided the Stonewall
Undercover Agents Had Been Sent Inside the Stonewall Inn Prior to Raid
Smith: The raid was made with a warrant, after undercover agents inside observed
illegal sale of alcohol.26
20
I think it highly likely that Smyth was present at the raid's beginning. Note that "D.I." apparently stands
for "deputy inspector."
21
White to Carter in his 9/10/97 interview (hereafter White-Carter): "I think I must have been hearing that
on a report because my impression is that I came walking up after the first bunch had been taken off."
22
The Leo E. Laurence account is from the July 4–10, 1969 issue of the Berkeley Barb, "Gays Hit N.Y.
Cops," p. 5.
23
The Howard Smith account appeared on the cover of the July 3 issue of the Village Voice, titled "Full
Moon Over the Stonewall."
24
I therefore reason that the raid started with six officers from the First Division (which apparently is
synonymous with "vice squad") and three more arrived from the Sixth Precinct.
25
According to the Pine-Isay interview, "all" of the initial raiding party were in plainclothes.
26
It is tempting to read this as corroboration of Pine’s assertion in his interview with Isay that undercover
police had been sent in before the raid, however, this could just as well refer to evidence gathered in the
previous raid of that same week.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
Search Warrant
Smith: The raid was made with a warrant.
Leitsch: officers entered the club armed with a warrant
NYT, June 29: the policemen . . . had a search warrant authorizing them [to]
investigate reports that liquor was sold illegally at the bar, the Stonewall Inn
NYT, June 30: a warrant authorizing a search for illegal sales of alcohol
Police Log: At 1:20 AM 6/28/69 at 53 Christopher St, The Stonewall club. 1 Div
Ptrl entered premises with Search Warrant #578 issued 6/26/69 and signed by Judge
Schawn.
Police Confiscated Alcoholic Beverages
Eskow: After 28 cases of beer and 19 bottles of liquor were confiscated, police
began clearing the bar.
NYT, June 29: Plainclothes men and detectives confiscated cases of liquor from
the bar
NYT, June 30: confiscated cases of liquor and beer
Police Make Customers Leave
RAT: “They checked identity. If you had it they let you go, if not they held you
up till they found out more.”27
Laurence: [The police] trapped everybody inside and began herding customers
one-by-one into paddy wagons outside.
Truscott: But as the patrons trapped inside were released one by one, a crowd
started to gather on the street.
White: The kids were all shooed out onto the street . . . Christopher St was
completely blocked off and crowds swarmed from the Voice office down to the Civil War
hospital.
A Crowd Forms
NYT, June 29: Deputy Inspector Seymour Pine said that a large crowd formed in
the square after being evicted from the bar.
Eskow: The customers milled around outside. They were joined by other
villagers.
Leitsch: the customers [were] told to leave. The patrons gathered on the street
outside, and were joined by other homosexuals and Village residents and visitors to the
area. The police behaved, as is usually the case when they deal with homosexuals, with
bad grace, and were reproached by "straight" onlookers.
27
This was corroborated by Larry Hardy in early July 1999 phone conversation: it was not as simple as the
story is usually told, that all those without ID were arrested; rather they were questioned and if their answers
satisfied the police, they were let go: another example of accuracy in the generally overlooked RAT
account.
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Composition of Crowd
Eskow: Customers and villagers swarmed over the plainclothes cops.
NYT28 June 29: Hundreds of young men went on a rampage
NYT June 3029: about 400 youths
White: other gay kids and straight spectators swelled the ranks
New York Post, June 2830: hundreds of passersby [were] shouting “Gay Power”
and “We Want Freedom”
Truscott: It was initially a festive gathering, composed mostly of Stonewall boys
D.D.31: GAY POWER seems to be the newest cry in the city as a result of the
Stonewall bust—and lest we forget, it took the swishy, fem queens to start the ball
rolling.
Smith: the gay customers freshly ejected from their hangout . . . had been joined
by quantities of Friday night tourists hawking around for Village-type excitement.
Eskow: The customers milled around outside. They were joined by other
villagers.
Leitsch: The patrons gathered on the street outside, and were joined by other
homosexuals and Village residents and visitors to the area. The police . . . were
reproached by "straight" onlookers.
RAT: a hip spade was shouting. . . . [Later, when TPF arrives:] most of the
crowds to the sides were now filled with the curious.
The Crowd Reacts
Truscott: It was initially a festive gathering, composed mostly of Stonewall boys
who were waiting around for friends still inside or to see what was going to happen.
Cheers would go up as favorites would emerge from the door, strike a pose, and swish by
the detective with a “Hello there, fella.” The stars were in their element. Wrists were
limp, hair was primped, and reactions to the applause were classic. “I gave them the gay
power bit, and they loved it, girls.” “Have you seen Maxine? Where is my wife—I told
her not to go far.”
Laurence: Every time someone was released from the bar, cheers would go out
along with the cry “Gay Power!”
28
This article, "4 Policemen Hurt in 'Village' Raid," appeared without a byline. (According to Donald W.
McLeod's Lesbian and Gay Liberation in Canada, this story appeared in the June 29 late city edition in
section I, p. 33.)
29
This article, "Police Again Rout 'Village' Youths," has no byline and, according to Martin Duberman,
appeared on p. 22.
30
This article, entitled "No Place for Gaiety," has no byline and was reprinted the following day with two
sentences about Dave Van Ronk's arrest added and with a different title, "Village Raid Stirs Melee."
31
D.D. refers to "D.D.'s NEW YORK," a news and gossip column in the MSNYN. All quotes herein are
from the August 1969 issue. It is with some hesitancy that I insert D.D.'s comment here on the first night,
for I have tried to keep it to eyewitnesses from that night. D.D. does not give the basis for this statement in
the column. Still, I include it in an effort to be objective for, whatever the basis for D.D.'s claim, it was
written in 1969 and seems to concern the first night since D.D. refers to "start[ing] the ball rolling."
Moreover, Dick Leitsch has told me that the riots included plenty of classic camp humor, including
extravagant gender-bending behavior.
10
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Truscott: “I’m a faggot, and I’m proud of it!” “Gay Power!” “I like boys!”—
these and many other slogans were heard all three nights.
New York Post, June 27: hundreds of passersby [were] shouting “Gay Power” and
“We Want Freedom”
Size of Crowd
EVO: Poof, it starts. The fags have gone revolutionary. A crowd was waiting
outside—possibly five hundred in all.
White: soon other gay kids and straight spectators swelled the ranks to, I'd say,
about a thousand people32.
New York Post, June 27: hundreds of passersby [were] shouting
NYT, June 29: Hundreds of young men went on a rampage . . . The police
estimated that 200 young men had been expelled from the bar. The crowd grew to close
to 400 during the melee . . .
NYT, June 30: about 200 persons were in the bar. . . . A melee involving about
400 youths ensued
RAT: About 3-400 guys were jammed in around a police car in front of the door,
taunting several pigs in plainclothes guarding the entrance. [Later, when TPF arrives:]
Sirens approached and kids starting spilling out over the fence of Sheridan Square to flee
the scene. On each side together there must have been around 1500—2000 people by this
time milling about, being pushed back by about 30 or more riot cops. It was hard to tell
exactly how many.
Police Justification for Raid
RAT: “They raided the joint, the fucking bastards,” a couple of guys told us.
“Why?” we asked. “Operating without a liquor license.”
NYT, June 29: the policemen . . . had a search warrant authorizing them [to]
investigate reports that liquor was sold illegally . . . Inspector Pine said [the bar] was
operating without a liquor license. . . .
New York Post, June 28: Police said the raid was staged because of unlicensed
sale of liquor on the premises.
Leitsch: officers closed the place on grounds of illegal selling of alcohol.
Eskow: Plainclothesmen . . . moved in under orders to gather fresh evidence of
illegal sale of alcohol, arrest offending parties and close the bar.
Levin: The stated reason for the crackdown is a tough new SLA ban against
“private” clubs. Denying harassment of homosexuals, police point out that licensed bars
have not been bothered—only illegal saloons.
Smith: Just before and after the siege I picked up some more detached
information. According to the police, they are not picking on homosexuals. On these
raids they almost never arrest customers, only people working there. As of June 1, the
State Liquor Authority said that all unlicensed places were eligible to apply for licenses.
The police are scrutinizing all unlicensed places, and most of the bars that are in that
32
White-Carter: "That's clearly an exaggeration. I think it was 250, maximum."
11
03/08/16 3:03 AM
category happen to cater to homosexuals. The Stonewall is an unlicensed private club.
The raid was made with a warrant, after undercover agents inside observed illegal sale of
alcohol.
Eskow: Police have been keeping an eye on the inn to explore the possibility of
“local syndicate involvements.”
Response of Stonewall Inn Owners/Management to Police Accusations
Smith: As for the rough-talking owners and/or managers of the Stonewall, their
riff ran something like this: we are just honest businessmen who are being harassed by
the police because we cater to homosexuals, and because our names are Italian so they
think we are part of something bigger. We haven’t done anything wrong and have never
been convicted in no court. We have rights, and the courts should decide and not let the
police do things like what happened here.
Changing Mood of the Crowd
Smith: Things were already pretty tense: the gay customers freshly ejected from
their hangout, prancing high and jubilant in the street, had been joined by quantities of
Friday night tourists hawking around for Village-type excitement.
Eskow: Customers and villagers swarmed over the plainclothes cops.
Smith: The cops had considerable trouble arresting the few people they wanted to
take in for further questioning.
Police log: While therein and . . . attempting to leave premises with prisoners they
were confronted by a large crowd who attempted to stop them from removing prisoners.
Police Complaint Report33 number 6826: 3:00am 6/28/69; 53 Christopher St;
Crime or Offense (if any): 205.30 240.20-1&7 195.05 240.25; Defendant listed below did
interfere with officer making lawfull (sic) arrest by throwing assorted objects while with
others did become very loud and refused to comply. [Plcw.?] Lynch 423 5th Pct.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6826 Resist arrest
RAT: We tried to find more information, just as the pigs started hauling off in a
squad car a guy they had dragged outside. The crowd protested wildly, booing, shrieking,
“Up against the wall, faggots!” “Beat it off, pigs!” A few tried jumping out to disrupt the
no-man’s land between the door and the squad car, but most as yet were reticent about
provoking any pig violence. Someone asked me for a knife. “I’m gonna slice up those
motherfuckers’ tires.”34 The crowd grew larger and more agitated as the squad car drove
off.
33
Besides the handwritten police log, the other two kinds of police records available from the Stonewall
riots are from a form headed “Complaints—Chronological Record” and a series of Complaint Report forms
filled out with numbers corresponding to the numbers in the chronological list of complaints. On all the
complaint forms made available on the Stonewall riots, the names and addresses of all arrested parties are
blacked out as well as all the first names of police officers.
34
That the cars of at least one police vehicle were sliced is confirmed by two accounts given by Morty
Manford: his 1989 interview with Eric Marcus and an unpublished 1978 account of the riot found in the
Morty Manford papers, International Gay Information Center, Rare Books and Manuscripts, New York
Public Library.
12
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Smith: A strange mood was in the crowd—I noticed the full moon. Loud
defiances mixed with skittish hilarity made for a more dangerous stage of protest; they
were feeling their impunity. This kind of crowd freaks easily.
RAT: Someone tried to sell me some speed. “Shit, man, they’s out like always to
chase us down and give us a good fuck. They ain’t got nothin else to do during the
summer,” a hip spade was shouting. “Nobody’s going to fuck around with me. I ain’t
going to take this shit,” a guy in a dark red tee-shirt shouted, dancing in and out of the
crowd.
Mood Becomes Angry
EVO: But suddenly the mood changed.
Drag Queens and Stonewall Personnel Arrested
White: a mammoth paddy wagon, as big as a school bus35, pulled up to the Wall
. . . As the Mafia owners were dragged out one by one and shoved into the wagon, the
crowd would let up Bronx cheers and jeers and clapping. Someone shouted "Gay
Power", others took up the cry—and then it dissolved in giggles. A few more prisoners—
bartenders, hatcheck boys—a few more cheers, someone starts singing "We Shall
Overcome"— and then they start camping on it. A drag queen is shoved into the wagon;
she hits the cop over the head with her purse. The cop clubs her. Angry stirrings in the
crowd.
Truscott: Suddenly the paddywagon arrived and the mood of the crowd changed.
Three of the more blatant queens—in full drag—were loaded inside, along with the
bartender and doorman, to a chorus of catcalls and boos from the crowd.
Letter36: The cops raided a long established bar called The Stonewall on Friday
night and arrested several Drag queens.
Leitsch: The patrons were ordered to leave, except for a few in drag who were
arrested.
Calls To Turn the Patrol Wagon Over
Eskow: a police van was nearly overturned
Truscott: A cry went up to push the paddywagon over.
NYT, June 30: at one time the crowd tried to turn over a patrol wagon.
Laurence: The crowd rushed the police wagon as someone yelled: “Let’s turn it
over.”
RAT: A wagon pulled up. People began beating the wagon, booing, trying to see
who was being hauled out and off. Several pigs were on guard and periodically
threatened the crowd unless they moved back. Impossible to do. Then they hauled a
couple off into the van. It was hard to see or know what was happening inside. A few
plainclothesmen were surveying the crowd, obviously panicked. As yet there was no
support from the riot squad, though the longer the cops took, the hotter the crowd
35
White-Carter: White indicated that he thought he had exaggerated the size of the paddy wagon.
This is an anonymous letter—the letter is incomplete, pp. 1, 2, 4, and final pages missing—in the Duke
University Special Collections Library. It is contained in the ALFA (Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance ?)
Archives, Subject Files, Box 16, Folder “Regional Gay Organizations.”
36
13
03/08/16 3:03 AM
became. . . . We joined in with some who wanted to storm the van, free those inside, then
turn over the van. But nobody was yet prepared for that kind of action.
White: Then the cops, used to the cringing and disorganization of gay crowds,
snort off. But the crowd doesn't disperse. Everyone's restless, angry and high-spirited.
No one has a slogan, no one even has an attitude, but something's brewing.
EVO: Someone began to scream, “Let them go, let them go!”
RAT: They began shouting for different people that they knew were being held.
“We want Tommy, the blond drag queen.” shouts went up: Suddenly Tommy appeared in
blond wig, etc. and walked coolly out the door. Shouts and screaming. “We want
Tommy.” Tommy, not held by the pigs, smiled and suddenly took off into the crowd to
the left. The pigs were really flustered. Many went running after Tommy who took off in
a taxi.
Pennies Are Thrown
RAT: Pennies ricocheted off the van, a beer can hit the door.
NYT, June 29: The young men threw . . . pennies . . . at the policemen
Leitsch: Pennies were thrown at the cops ("dirty copper")
Lesbian’s Resistance to Being Arrested Greatly Increases the Crowd’s Anger
Truscott: The next person to come out was a dyke, and she put up a struggle—
from car to door to car again. It was at that moment that the scene became explosive.37
Limp wrists were forgotten.
Smith: The turning point came when the police had difficulty keeping a dyke in a
patrol car. Three times she slid out and tried to walk away. The last time a cop bodily
heaved her in. The crowd shrieked, “Police brutality!” “Pigs!” A few coins sailed
through the air. I covered my face.
Eskow: the cops were the targets of thrown coins, cobblestones,
Letter: Everything went along fairly peacefully until they tried to arrest a dyke
(stone butch), who lost her mind in the streets of the West Village—kicking, cursing,
screaming, and fighting—she set the whole crowd wild—beserk!
37
Beyond the inconsistencies discussed in note 1, the timing of the paddy wagon leaving seems to be the
one real inconsistency between the Truscott and Smith accounts: Truscott has the paddy wagon leave, the
action die down “momentarily” and then escalate with the lesbian resisting arrest. Smith has the paddy
wagon and 3 patrol cars leave together. I am inclined to believe that both are correct: that is, that there was
more than one paddy wagon at the scene: one which left early and another which left later with several
patrol cars. When I have interviewed people they tend to spontaneously use the plural when they mention
the paddy wagon. Pine does this himself in his interview with David Isay then later says he can't recall if
there were one or more patrol wagons. I think as is so often the case with accounts of the riots, what might
at first appear to be impossible inconsistencies is merely the reflection that there was so much going on than
no one could take it all in at once and omission of an event is not necessarily evidence it did not occur.
Moreover, the struggle with the lesbian went on for some time according to one witness, so one way to
reconcile seeming inconsistencies is to realize that the paddy wagon and the police cars were probably
being loaded with prisoners simultaneously. This also no doubt did take some time, so I think essentially 3
things were going on at once: the lesbian (and others?) being loaded into police cars, other arrested parties
being loaded into the paddy wagon, and the crowd trying to interfere with the arrests. Of course the police
were simultaneously occupied with other arrested parties inside the Stonewall according to Pine.
14
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Laurence: Ironically, it was a chick who gave the rallying cry to fight. Pigs were
loading her into the wagon when she shouted to a big crowd of bystanders: “Why don’t
you guys do something!” That did it. The crowd rushed the police wagon as someone
yelled: “Let’s turn it over.”
Police Vehicles Leave With Prisoners
Smith: Pine ordered the three cars and paddy wagon to leave with the prisoners
before the crowd became more of a mob. “Hurry back,” he added, realizing he and his
force of eight detectives, two of them women, would be easily overwhelmed if the temper
broke. “Just drop them at the Sixth Precinct and hurry back.” The sirened caravan
pushed through the gauntlet, pummeled and buffeted until it managed to escape.
New York Post, June 28: As persons seized in the raid were driven away38 by
police, hundreds of passersby . . . laid siege to the tavern
Trustcott: but it [the paddy wagon] drove away before anything could happen.
With its exit, the action waned momentarily.
Laurence: The pig driver drove off escaping the angry crowd.
Objects Are Thrown at the Police
Smith: “Pigs!” “[F]aggot cops!” Pennies and dimes flew. I stood against the
door. The detective held at most a 10-foot clearing. Escalate to nickels and quarters.
Truscott: a rain of coins descended on the cops.
Letter: They began throwing money, then bottles.
Smith: A bottle. Another bottle.
Truscott: Beer cans and bottles were heaved at the windows.
Leitsch: Pennies were thrown at the cops . . . then beer cans, rocks
EVO: From the sky came a bottle, then a stone, then a brick—all kinds of objects.
Eskow: As the cops came out, some persons in the crowd began throwing things.
The missiles gradually grew more dangerous.
Gil Weissman Has Right Eye Injured
Smith: the only uniformed cop among them gets hit with something under his
eye. He hollers, and his hand comes away scarlet. It looks a lot more serious than it
really is.
Eskow: Among those arrested was Dave Van Ronk, 33, of 55 Sheridan Square,
accused of throwing an object that injured Patrolman Gil Weissman, 44, of the Charles
St. station.39
38
Note the precision of this account as to when things totally broke: as the prisoners were driven away.
Also note the close agreement with the strong impression I get from various accounts that there was a kind
of simultaneous awareness on the part of the crowd and the cops that thus isolated, they were outnumbered.
My strong impression is that this awareness emboldened the crowd to escalate their attack. Then when the
police, because of their realization of their vulnerability and the increased anger by the crowd, retreated into
the bar, that settled it for the crowd: they knew they could punish the police as they wanted to, so they went
at them with total fury: the highest point of anger that night.
15
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Leitsch: One policeman got hit in the eye
Police Log: Ptl Weisman Sec I 6 Pct Sta … received injury to right eye when he
was struck by an unkown object thrown by [name of person blacked out40] of [street
address blacked out] NYC. Ptl Weisman taken to St Vin Hosp. Treated thereat by Dr.
Camponella [sp?] and released. Diagnosis: Laceration right eye and scratched cornea;
Ptl reported sick . . .
Police Complaint Form Numbered 6820: 2:00 am 6/28/69 Fel Assault Prisoner
listed below ATC (sp?) in that at the time & place of occurance (sic) he did throw
unknown object which struck officer in right eye causing injury to same. Ptl [first name
blacked out] Weisman (sp?) 18228 6th Pct
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6820 Fel Assualt (sic)-1 Arrest
Dave Van Ronk Is Arrested and Taken Into the Stonewall Inn
Smith: They are all suddenly furious. Three41 [police officers confront the crowd
in an attempt to] scare the mob from the [front of the Stonewall Inn]. A hail of coins. A
beer can glances off Deputy Inspector Smyth’s head.
Truscott: At the height of the action42, a bearded figure was plucked from the
crowd and dragged inside.
…continued from the preceding page
39
Note that Smith's comment that the injured police officer was "the only uniformed" officer present when
taken together with Eskow's remark that the injured officer was from "the Charles St. station," that is, the
Sixth Precinct station, confirms my earlier conclusion that the only uniformed officer present would be from
the Sixth Pct. Station (as is also confirmed by the police log), so I therefore conclude that Weissman arrived
later than the initial party and that he came there from the 6th Pct. station house in response to the phone
call the initial plainclothes raiding party made just as they began the raid. No doubt he came with other
police officers from the 6th Pct., but that he is the only one from the 6th Pct. present at this time suggests
that all the other uniformed officers—who all came from the 6th Pct. (see note above that all the initial
raiding party were plainclothes officers)—except Weissman had left earlier with the prisoners. Further, that
all but one of the uniformed police who came had to be used to take the prisoners away (enough officers to
handle four vehicles—"the three cars and paddy wagon") suggests a fair number of persons arrested,
especially since Pine recognized that he was losing control of the situation as evidenced by his urgent order
to “Just drop them at the Sixth Precinct and hurry back.” No doubt Weissman was the only officer they felt
they could spare at the time to stay with Pine. Note also from the RAT account: "Soon the van pulled out
leaving the street unguarded. A few pigs outside had to flee for their lives inside and barricade themselves
in." (Emphasis added.) In other words, the RAT account agrees with the foregoing analysis: it was the
number of police leaving with the prisoners that left the street "unguarded." The RAT account also implies
that the police had no choice but to seek refuge inside the Stonewall Inn, for they were so disproportionately
outnumbered. Or is it possible that the police vehicles were so full of prisoners that there was no room for
Weissman? Or, alternatively, if Howard Smith's theory—that Pine carried out the raid to force the 6th
precinct to give him a bigger cut from the payoffs the Stonewall Inn was paying the 6th precinct and that
this tactic of Pine's angered the 6th precinct police officers and thus they made a point of not responding to
Pine's call for help as long as possible—is correct, then the 6th precinct officers would have been enjoying
Pine's discomfort and perhaps they only left Weissman behind not to help Pine but because they had no
room to carry him with them? After all, Weissman was one of them and why would they want to subject
him to possible harm?
40
This is obviously Dave Van Ronk. Note that in the police log the object is unknown.
41
Note that both Truscott and Smith place the number of police who grapple with Pine at three.
16
03/08/16 3:03 AM
New York Post, June 29: Van Ronk was not in the tavern, but got into the fight
when it spilled out onto the street, police said.
RAT43: A couple more were thrown into the van. We joined in with some who
wanted to storm the van, free those inside, then turn over the van. But nobody was yet
prepared for that kind of action. Then a scuffle at the door. One guy refused to be put
into the van. 5 or 6 cops guarding the van tried to subdue him with little success. Several
guys tried to help free him. Unguarded, 3 or 4 of those in the van appeared then quickly
disappeared into the crowd. This was all anyone needed.
Smith: Pine, a man of about 40 and smallish build, gathers himself, leaps out into
the melee, and grabs someone around the waist, pulling him downward and back into the
doorway. They fall. Pine regains hold and drags the elected protester inside by the hair.
Truscott: He was later charged with having thrown an object at the police.
Eskow: Among those arrested was Dave Van Ronk, 33, of 55 Sheridan Square,
accused of throwing an object that injured Patrolman Gil Weissman, 44, of the Charles
St. station.
NYT, June 29: Arrested in the melee, was Dave Van Ronk, 33 years old, of 15
Sheridan Square, a well-known folk singer. He was accused of having thrown a heavy
object at a patrolman
Truscott: Three cops were necessary to get Van Ronk away from the crowd and
into the Stonewall.
Police Retreat Inside the Stonewall Inn and Barricade Themselves Within
Leitsch: The handful of cops retreated inside the bar and locked [themselves] in
Smith: Pine says, “Let’s get inside. Lock ourselves inside, it’s safer.” “You want
to come in?” he asks me. “You’re probably safer,” with a paternal tone. Two flashes: if
they go in and I stay out, will the mob know that the blue plastic thing hanging from my
shirt is a press card, or by now will they assume I’m a cop too? On the other hand, it
might be interesting to be locked in with a few cops, just rapping and reviewing how they
work.
RAT: Several others tried [assisting] the guy held by the cops, but the latter
escaped into the Stonewall. . . . A few pigs outside had to flee for their lives inside and
barricade themselves in.
…continued from the preceding page
42
In reconciling the various accounts of the riot's beginning (as well as for an understanding of the
dynamics of the eveing) the point that Van Ronk was arrested at a moment when things are very much out
of hand in general is, in my opinion, significant: since the crowd reaches 100% fury when the cops retreat
inside the Stonewall, it is easy to forget that when Van Ronk was arrested, things are already extremely
chaotic. After all, by this time Steve Yates's friend Nick has already tossed a cobblestone (Yates-Carter
interview 10/8/96) and Weissman and Smyth have been personally hit by a beer can and an unknown object
that drew blood. Nonetheless, it is one thing to try to bean a police officer with an object or to throw
objects in the general direction of the police; it is quite another matter to try to burn them alive.
43
I place this part of the RAT account here for I think the reporter is probably describing members of the
crowd trying to help Van Ronk resist being arrested. Another tantalizing possibility is the "guy" the
reporter sees putting up the fight is actually the arrested lesbian who resisted so heroically.
17
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Smith:44 Angry cops converge on the guy, releasing their anger on this sample
from the mob. Pine is saying, “I saw him throwing somethin,” and the guy unfortunately
is giving some sass, snidely admits to throwing “only a few coins.” The cop who was cut
is incensed, yells something like, “So you’re the one who hit me!” And while the other
cops help, he slaps the prisoner five or six times very hard and finishes with a punch to
the mouth. They handcuff the guy as he almost passes out. “All right," Pine announces,
“we book him for assault.”
EVO: The pigs then hurriedly took away the prisoners45 they had and barricaded
themselves in the Stonewall.
Smith: In goes me. We bolt the heavy door. The front of the Stonewall is mostly
brick except for the windows, which are boarded within by plywood. Inside we hear the
shattering of windows, followed by what we imagine to be bricks pounding on the floor,
voices yelling. The floor shudders at each blow.
Some in the Crowd Believe that the Police Are Beating Arrested Persons Inside the
Stonewall Inn
New Symposium Broadcast:46 Well, I'm Fred Sargeant and I'm vice chairman of the
Homophile Youth Movement. I was there Friday and Saturday nights. Friday night there
was a raid and the kids felt that, you know, some of the other kids were being kept inside
and being beaten up. You know, I don't know whether it really happened that way or not
but, you know, the rumor spread and—
Radio Interviewer: Do you know if there were kids inside the Stonewall being beaten up
by the police?
FS:
By the police, yeah. The police were holding them there 'cause—
RI:
[Overtalk]
FS:
the (police were?) on the way with the paddy wagon with some of them in there
and I guess they were waiting for another one. One did finally arrive later.
RI:
The paddy wagon with some of the patrons in it.
FS:
Right.
44
This part of Smith's chronology has been changed to reflect my decision that Pine and Truscott and RAT
are collectively correct: the highest point of violence the first night came after the police retreated inside
the Stonewall Inn and barricaded themselves against the furious mob and that after this they did not make
any forays outside to confront the crowd, let alone try to arrest anyone in the crowd.
45
Note the use of the plural, “prisoners,” here meaning those the police took inside the Stonewall Inn from
the outside to remain with them, presumably until reinforcements arrived—and when I interviewed Dave
Van Ronk, he felt that when they fished him out of the crowd they probably arrested some others as well.
46
“The New Symposium,” a WBAI Sunday gay radio program, broadcast transcript. The precise date of
the program is unknown. The broadcast begins with an introductory statement by Charles Pitts saying, “On
‘The New Symposium’ tonight we will hear an interview with a gay bar owner. But first we want to play a
tape we recorded yesterday when we talked to a young man who was in the vicinity of the Stonewall bar
during the riots there Friday and Saturday nights of last week.” If Pitts considered Sunday to mark the
beginning of a new week then it is possible the program was taped on June 29, but it seems more likely with
the description of the riots as taking place “last week” (instead of “over the last two days,” for example) that
the interview with Sargeant was taped on Saturday, July 6, 1969, although it is not impossible that it was
recorded on June 28.
18
03/08/16 3:03 AM
The Crowd, Seeing the Police Retreat, Goes Beserk
Truscott: The exit left no cops on the street, and almost by signal the crowd
erupted into cobblestone and bottle heaving.
Leitsch: The crowd wouldn't let them out, and were throwing things into the
place at them.
Eskow: the cops were the targets of . . . cobblestones
RAT: Soon the van pulled out leaving the street unguarded. A few pigs outside
had to flee for their lives inside and barricade themselves in. It was too good to be true.
The crowd took the offensive. The cat in the tee-shirt began by hurling a container of
something at the door. Then a can or stone cracked a window. Soon pandemonium
broke loose.
Parking Meter Uprooted and Used as a Battering Ram
Truscott: The reaction was solid: they were pissed.47 The trashcan I was
standing on was nearly yanked out from under me as a kid tried to grab it for use in the
window-smashing melee. From nowhere came an uprooted parking meter—used as a
battering ram on the Stonewall door.
EVO: A bunch of “queens,” along with a few “butch” members, grabbed a parking
meter
RAT: Cans, bottles, rocks, trashcans, finally a parking meter crashed the windows
and door. Cheers went up.
White: Some adorable butch hustler boys pull up a parking meter, [emphasis in
original] mind you, out of the pavement and use it as a battering ram (a few cops are still
inside the Wall, locked in).
47
Note that with Truscott there are three escalations:
1. mood change from festive and camp (but notice that even cited among these is a yell for “gay
power,” so perhaps some anger and political consciousness mainly expressed through camp) to anger
caused by the arrival of a paddy wagon and evidenced by vocal expressions of upset: catcalls, boos, and
call to turn over the paddy wagon
2. greater anger when lesbian resists arrest expressed through (a) beer cans and bottles heaved at
windows and (b) coins thrown at the police
3. when cops retreat inside Stonewall Inn and “almost by signal the crowd erupted into
cobblestone and bottle heaving The reaction was solid: they were pissed.” Note here the escalation to
heavier objects: cobblestones as opposed to only bottles and coins at 2.
This matches precisely with Smith’s account of the escalation (though Smith is more nuanced on
the escalation of stage 2, starting with smaller coins, building to larger coins, and then a single bottle is
thrown, followed by another bottle):
1. vocal: “Loud defiances mixed with skittish hilarity.”
2. throwing objects when the lesbian is arrested: “when . . . a cop bodily heaved [the lesbian] in
[the police car] . . . coins sailed through the air. … Pennies and dimes flew. … Escalate to nickels and
quarters. A bottle. Another bottle.”
3. heavier objects thrown after police retreat inside bar: “Pine says, ‘Let’s [l]ock ourselves
inside.’ … We bolt the heavy door [and] hear the shattering of windows, followed by what we imagine to be
bricks pounding on the door.”
19
03/08/16 3:03 AM
New York Post, June 28: passersby . . . laid siege to the tavern with an improvised
battering ram, garbage cans, bottles and beer cans48
NYT, June 29: The young men threw bricks, bottles, garbage, pennies and a
parking meter at the policemen
Leitsch: Pennies were thrown at the cops . . . then . . . even parking meters.
Eskow: the cops were the targets of … uprooted parking meters
White: Glass shatters all over the street.
Eskow: windows were smashed
Terror of the Police
Smith: “Aren’t you guys scared?” I say. “No.” But they look at least uneasy.
RAT: A few plainclothesmen were surveying the crowd, obviously panicked.
. . . The cops inside were scared shitless, dodging projectiles and flying glass.
Newsweek, Oct. 2749: “I was still shaking an hour later,” Smyth recalled last
week. “Believe me, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
EVO50: during the height of the action, you could see the fear and disbelief on the
faces of the pigs, and the straight people.
The Door of the Stonewall Inn Is Smashed Open With the Parking Meter
EVO: A bunch of “queens,” along with a few “butch” members, grabbed a
parking meter, and began battering the entrance until the doors swung open.
White: Cries of "Liberate the bar!" Bottles (from hostile straights?) rain down
from apartment windows. The ramming continues; the boys back up to the park fence,
take a flying start, collide with the door as the crowd cheers wildly. Cries of "We're the
pink panthers!" A mad Negro queen whirls like a dervish with a twisted piece of metal in
her hand and breaks the remaining windows. The doors begin to give.
RAT: Then with the parking meter a ram, in went the door.
Smith: The door is smashed open again51. More objects are thrown in.
The Police Fail in an Attempt To Ward off the Crowd With a Fire Hose as
the Parking Meter is Next Used to Beat Down the Wooden Barriers Behind
the Stonewall Inn's Windows
EVO: Then someone threw the [parking] meter through the plate glass windows.
Smith: One of the big plywood windows gives, and it seems inevitable that the
mob will pour in.
RAT: A sort of wooden wall blocking out the front plate glass windows was
forced down.
48
Note that this is the first known published account of the riots, coming out on the same day the riot began,
and that there is therefore no possibility of this account copying other accounts. Also, since this account
does not say it was a parking meter used as a battering ram, there is conversely no question of the other later
accounts that mention a parking meter copying this account.
49
The Newsweek article quoted here is titled "Policing the Third Sex," and has no byline.
50
Di Brienza puts this comment toward the end of his article and does not tie it to any specific day; still he
only describes in detail two of the three really violent nights, Friday and Wednesday, and he is probably
speaking equally of both nights.
51
N.B.: Smith writes "again," meaning that he is saying he saw the door beaten open more than once,
which might help to reconcile seeming contradictions in various accounts.
20
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Truscott: As the wood barrier behind the glass was beaten open, the cops inside
turned a fire hose on the crowd.
Smith: The detectives locate a fire hose, the idea being to ward off the madding
crowd until reinforcements arrive. They can’t see where to aim it, wedging the hose in a
crack in the door. It sends out a weak stream. We all start to slip on water and Pine says
to stop.
White: The cops turn a fire hose on the crowd (they're still within the Wall). But
they can't aim it properly and the crowd sticks.
RAT: The pigs carried futility to the extreme and turned the fire hose on the mob
through the door. Jeers, derision. Some shouted to “grab it, grab his cock.”
Truscott: Several kids took the opportunity to cavort in the spray, and their
momentary glee served to stave off what was rapidly becoming a full-scale attack.
The Attack Intensifies Again
Truscott: the fags were able to regroup forces and come up with another assault
RAT: The orgy was taking place. Vengeance vented against the source of
repression—gay bars, busts, kids victimized and exploited by the mafia and cops.
Strangely, no one spoke to the crowd or tried to direct the insurrection. Everyone’s heads
were in the same place. Some chanted “occupy—take over, take over” “Fag power,”
Smith: By now the mind’s eye has forgotten the character of the mob; the sound
filtering in doesn’t suggest dancing faggots any more. It sounds like a powerful rage bent
on vendetta.
RAT: Some then lit a trash can full of paper afire and stuffed it through the
window. Flames leaped up.
Smith: A door over to the side almost gives. One cop shouts, “Get away from
there or I’ll shoot!” It stops shaking. The front door is completely open.52
White: Finally the door is broken down
Police Prepare To Fire on Crowd
Smith: A kind of tribal adrenaline rush bolsters all of us; they all take out and
check pistols. I see both53 policewomen busy doing the same, and the danger becomes
even more real. I find a big wrench behind the bar, jam it into my belt like a scimitar.
Hindsight: my fear on the verge of being trampled by a mob fills the same dimensions as
my fear on the verge of being clubbed by the TPF. Pine places a few men on each side of
the corridor leading away from the entrance. They aim unwavering at the door.
RAT: Kids were really scared about going too far as they saw the cops pulling
guns from inside, pointed directly at the crowd.
52
Note Smith mentions here a front and a side door. Is the side door he is speaking of the door in the 1990s
Stonewall bar that connects the bar's first floor interior with the front staircase going to the second floor?
This would be a good question to ask Shaheen.
53
Note that according to Smith, the two policewomen are still present at this time, which agrees with Pine's
account that they had succeeded in getting one of the female officers out the rear of the building at the very
last minute, when Pine realized that unless help came, the only possible way to escape the crowd was by
firing on it and was preparing to do so.
21
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Smith: One detective arms himself in addition with a sawed-off baseball bat he
has found54. I hear, “We’ll shoot the first motherfucker that comes through the door.”
Pine glances over toward me. “Are you all right, Howard?” I can’t believe what I
am saying: “I’d fell a lot better with a gun.”
RAT: A volley of objects bounced off the walls inside. Then one cop in a fury
took his gun and actually hurled it at the crowd. People couldn’t believe what had
happened, for the gun hit the door frame with a clunk and lay there. A miracle it hadn’t
gone off.
The Stonewall Inn Is Set on Fire
Truscott: I heard several cries of “Let’s get some gas,” but the blaze of flame
which soon appeared in the window of the Stonewall was still a shock.
White: the kids, as though working to a prior plan, systematically dump refuse
from waste cans into the Wall, squirt it with lighter fluid, and ignite it. Huge flashes of
flame and billows of smoke.
EVO: Some small, scrawny, hoody-looking cat threw a can of lighter fluid
through the broken window, and lit it up.
Smith: I can only see the arm at the window. It squirts a liquid into the room, and
a flaring match follows. Pine is not more than 10 feet away. He aims his gun at the
figures.
Eskow: the front of the raided bar, the Stonewall Inn, was fire-bombed.
RAT: Some then lit a trash can full of paper afire and stuffed it through the
window. Flames leaped up.
NYT, June 30: A fire was set in the inn’s cloakroom, according to the police . . .
Leitsch: the bar . . . was set afire by the crowd in an attempt to cremate the police
(or "cook the pigs," as someone said).
The Police Succeed in Putting Out the Fire
Leitsch: A hose from the bar was employed by the trapped cops to douse the
flames after vainly searching for a fire exit. Had the place caught on fire during a busy
time, the police said, most of the customers would have been doomed, as there were no
fire exits.
Eskow: The fire was quickly doused by a hose from the bar.
The Police in the Paddy Wagon Return
White: Now the cops in the paddy wagon return,55 and two fire engines pull up.
54
I accept this detail as, according to Chuck Shaheen, who worked at the Stonewall Inn, Tony the Sniff, a
Stonewall Inn doorman, kept a baseball bat handy at the door. (Shaheen-Duberman interview.)
55
N.B. that White says it is the police in the "paddy wagon" who "return," a point not noted elsewhere in all
the other literature, but which is very logical since when the paddy wagon left Pined had asked them to
return as soon as possible, and the police log only lists 17 TPF members as responding to the situation,
whereas the RAT account says there were a minimum of 30 police, so I think there were 17 TPF and the
rest were the cops from the Sixth Precinct who initially came to assist Pine in response to his phone call
made just after he entered the Stonewall Inn. Of course there is also the possibilitythat those Sixth Precinct
officers, brought back extra police from the Sixth Precinct, having seen that the situation was getting out of
control when they had left the scene.
Also, n.b. that Truscott below has the "reinforcements" arrive in "several carloads" and not in patrol
continued on the following page…
22
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Clubs fly. The crowd retreats.
Firetrucks56 and the Tactical Patrol Force Arrive
Smith: He doesn’t fire. The sound of sirens coincides with the whoosh of flames
where the lighter fluid was thrown.
Leitsch: reinforcements were summoned.
Police log: a signal 10-41 was transmitted at 2:50 AM57
EVO: Shortly after a fire hose was turned on from the inside, pig reinforcements
arrived on the scene.58
Eskow: Reinforcements were called and the crowd was dispersed.
Smith: Later, Pine tells me he didn’t shoot because he had heard the sirens in
time and felt no need to kill someone if help was arriving. It was that close.
New York Post, June 28: Police reinforcements were rushed to the tavern to deal
with the disturbances
NYT, June 29: Police reinforcements were sent to the area to hold off the crowd.
NYT, June 30: a partial riot mobilization was ordered by police Headquarters
Truscott: By the time the fags were able to regroup forces and come up with
another assault [after the distraction of the humor provided by the firehose] several
carloads of police reinforcements had arrived, and in minutes the streets were clear.
EVO: After some brief skirmishes, it was all over
Leitsch: A melee ensued, with nearly a thousand persons participating, as well as
several hundred cops.
Letter: "Stonewall Girls, We wear our hair in curls; We wear no underwear, we
show our pubic hairs . . . "59
At that point the fire hoses were turned on the whole crowd & they scattered.60
…continued from the preceding page
wagons or buses. It is my impression that the TPF usually traveled in buses.
56
The arrival of fire trucks may be corroboration of the police woman escaping so late that she saw attempts
(even successful perhaps) to set the club on fire, for who else but the escaping policewoman would have
summoned fire trucks? The other possibility is that a passerby did so, either by walking to the fire station
on the same block the Stonewall Inn is on (but on the block's other side) or by a phone call. However, the
overwhelming hostility of the crowd would seem to suggest it is more probable that it was the police woman
who summoned the fire trucks. Perhaps she even went to the firehouse on foot, as it was nearby and she
exited by the club's rear. She could even have used the phone at the firehouse to send out the 10-41 signal.
57
The police log lists 17 members from precincts 4, 5, and 10 as responding to the 10-41 signal. It also
says “Capt Rosenblum duty capt at scene.” Since Rosenblum was the one who cancelled the 10-41 signal, I
think it is safe to assume that he was there with the TPF. Two other names mentioned in the police log are
Ptl Rossi (sp?), Sgt. Twiley (sp?), and Insp. Adam Tatem as well as one other name that is illegible. It is not
clear whether these last three were with the TPF or not. Twiley apparently wrote the report in the log,
Tatem issued a summons, and Rossi signed a form.
58
Note the helpful hint here with timing as well as the agreement with other accounts: the time between the
firehose being used on the crowd and the arrival of reinforcements was not long.
60
This fragment from the anonymous ALFA letter comes at the beginning of a page in midsentence and
continued on the following page…
23
03/08/16 3:03 AM
RAT: Then “Riot pigs” somebody was shouting. Sirens approached and kids
starting spilling out over the fence of Sheridan Square to flee the scene. On each side
together there must have been around 1500—2000 people by this time milling about,
being pushed back by about 30 or more riot cops. It was hard to tell exactly how many.
But no one was ready to get their heads beat in and most of the crowds to the sides were
now filled with the curious.
Police Complaint Report number 682661: 3:00am62 6/28/69; 53 Christopher St;
Crime or Offense (if any): 205.30 240.20-1&7 195.05 240.25; Defendant listed below did
interfere with officer making lawfull (sic) arrest by throwing assorted objects while with
others did become very loud and refused to comply. [Plcw.?] Lynch 423 5th Pct.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6826 Resist arrest
Smith: While the squads of uniforms disperse the mob out front, inside we are
checking to see if each of us [is] all right.63 For a few minutes we get the post-tension
giggles, but as they subside I start scribbling notes to catch up, and the people around me
change back to cops. They begin examining the place.
Duration of Uprising
Police log: Signal 10-41 cancelled at 335AM by Capt Rosenblum [sp?].
Smith: It had lasted 45 minutes.64
…continued from the preceding page
suggests that when the firetrucks arrived, fire hoses were turned on a chorus line singing the famous lyrics
used at the Stonewall riots.
61
I put the record of this arrest here for reasons of chronology and because David Van Ronk told me that
when he was taken to the 6th Precinct to be booked, the crowd was still trying to impede arrests.
62
Note that while the time of incident is 3:00 a.m., the report was made at 11:00 a.m., suggesting a busy
night for the police. Further, that the report (and presumably the arrest?) was made by a member of the 5th
precinct, strongly suggests the presence of the TPF at the time of this arrest.
63
Note the contrast between action inside the Stonewall Inn and action outside: "While the squads of
uniforms disperse the mob out front, inside we are checking to see if each of us [is] all right." I see this as
evidence of my contention that the prisoners and police are still inside the club while the TPF is busy
outside. Note that beyond this single brief mention, all the attention from here on out in all accounts is on
the streets outside: the prisoners inside are forgotten, which means the process of getting them out of the
Stonewall and to the 6th Precinct is also forgotten by all historians of the riots whose accounts I have read.
64
Note that the time elapsed between the two 10-41 signals recorded in the police log, 2:50 to 3:35, is 45
minutes, but note also that (1) this is the time between the acknowledged receipt of a signal 10-41 and its
cancellation (per Pine an earlier 10-41 was cancelled) and (2) per Pine, the second signal sent went out very
late, after he and his officers were preparing to fire on the demonstrators. (3) Further, per RAT as well as
many other witnesses, the skirmishing—as well as people standing around talking about the night's events—
after the TPF arrived went on in the streets for some time. I think one reason many newspaper reporters
recorded the short duration of the riot is that (1) the streets did initially clear when the riot police arrived,
but that does not at all mean that they remained clear, (2) seeing the streets initially cleared and presuming
the story was over, many reporters then went to the police station to get the details on who was arrested, and
(3) many reporters (and protesters) probably arrived late, missed a lot of the action, and took their timelines
from the two acknowledged 10-41 signals. I would suggest that a more realistic and reasonable
interpretation of the time length is from the raid on the club at 1:20 until sometime after 4:00 AM. Setting a
somewhat arbitrary time (but one I feel reasonable based on the evidence, including interviews I have
continued on the following page…
24
03/08/16 3:03 AM
NYT, June 29: the melee . . . lasted about 45 minutes, [police] said
Leitsch: Street fighting followed and continued for several hours. Nearly two
hours later, the cops had "secured" the area . . .
Eskow: A predawn police raid . . . touched off a two-hour melee
New York Post, June 28: the disturbances . . . continued for more than two hours
RAT: People hung around till after 4 am talking in little groups. People were
excited and angry.
Who Was Arrested
Smith: Just before and after the siege I picked up some more detached
information. According to the police, they are not picking on homosexuals. On these
raids they almost never arrest customers, only people working there. As of June 1, the
State Liquor Authority said that all unlicensed places were eligible to apply for licenses.
The police are scrutinizing all unlicensed places, and most of the bars that are in that
category happen to cater to homosexuals. The Stonewall is an unlicensed private club.
The raid was made with a warrant, after undercover agents inside observed illegal sale of
alcohol.
It was explained to me that generally men dressed as men, even if wearing
extensive makeup, are always released; men dressed as women are sometimes arrested;
and “men” fully dressed as women, but who upon inspection by a policewoman prove to
have undergone the sex-change operation, are always let go. At the Stonewall, out of five
queens checked, three were men and two were changes, even though all said they were
girls. Pine released them all anyway.
Leitsch: In all, thirteen people were arrested on Saturday morning—7 of them
employees of the Stonewall.
Eskow: 13 persons were arrested. …
White: the Mafia owners were dragged out one by one and shoved into the wagon
Laurence: The pigs proceeded to bust all the employees of the establishment, and
some fags, too, for good measure. … They … busted 13 people.
NYT, June 29: Thirteen persons were arrested
…continued from the preceding page
conducted) for the riot's end as 4:15, if we take that as roughly the time people quit talking and headed
home, that would allow a time line of almost exactly 3 hours (1:20 to 4:15 being 2 hours and 55 minutes),
which seems more reasonable for the police to (1) enter the club, (2) separate those inside the club into
various categories and line patrons up as well as seize and catalog contraband alcohol (3) release ordinary
patrons, (4) place those arrested into police vehicles while simultaneously dealing with resistance from the
crowd outside and from the lesbian they are arresting, (5) for 4 police vehicles, including one with slashed
tires, to leave, (6) to battle the crowd and arrest Dave Van Ronk, (7) to retreat and barricade themselves
inside the Stonewall Inn, (8) to try to hold the Inn against the crowd outside while trying to find a way to
escape the Stonewall Inn, (9) to finally succeed in finding an exit for an officer to get help, (10) time for the
officer to send the signal 10-41 and possibly summon fire trucks, (11) time for the TPF and fire trucks to
arrive, (12) time for the TPF to intially clear the streets, (13) time for Pine to remove the rest of his
prisoners to the Sixth Precinct while still facing resistance from the crowd according to Van Ronk, and (14)
time for people to mill around discussing what they had just witnessed.
25
03/08/16 3:03 AM
NYT, June 30: 13 persons were arrested . . . Among those arrested was Dave Van
Ronk
Charges Against Those Arrested
NYT, June 29: Charges against the 13 who were arrested ranged from harassment
and resisting arrest to disorderly conduct.
Police Complaint Report number 681965: 2:00 am 6/28/69; 53 Christopher Street;
Crime or Offense (if any): Harrasment (sic) 240.25/5; Defendants listed below all acting
in concernt (sic) with each other did shove and kick the officer, Ptl [first name blacked
out] Broughton 8076 1st Div.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6819 3 arrests Harrassment
Police Complaint Report number 6826: 3:00am 6/28/69; 53 Christopher St;
Crime or Offense (if any): 205.30 240.20-1&7 195.05 240.25; Defendant listed below did
interfere with officer making lawfull (sic) arrest by throwing assorted objects while with
others did become very loud and refused to comply. [Plcw.?] Lynch 423 5th Pct.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6826 Resist arrest
Police Complaint Report number 6827: 3:00 am 6/28/69; 53 Christopher Street;
Crime or Offense (if any): Fel Assualt (sic); Defendant did strike arresting officer in the
left eye with a rolled up newspaper causing officer to fall to ground sustaining a fractured
left wrist, Aided #2643 Officer Scheu 25892 6th
[on back of Police Complaint Report number 6827:] Person named on the reverse
printed in the sixth sqd bythe (sic) [illegible] and advised of his rights by officer. Pending
final court disposition, request this case be closed.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6827 Fel assualt (sic)
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 682166 W 4th St & 7th Ave So.
Dis Con-Resisting
NYT, June 30: 13 . . . were arrested on a number of charges
Police Log: While therein and effecting 5 arrests for ABC violations . . . Sgt.
Twiley [sp?] directed service of Lun [sp?] #K241150 for no occupancy sign VAC on
[information blacked out] ret [sp?] 7/15/69.
Insp. Adam Tatem of Div of Lic, Dept of Consumer Affairs issued the following
summonses: #X163029-30-31 to [information blacked out] for V.A.C. 1) unlic cabaret
2) Overcrowding 3) Unlic exhib.
#X163032 to [information blacked out] unlic. exhib.
#X163033 to [information blacked out] DO [ditto?]
65
Note that other complaint forms have a number that seems to be assigned to the person arrested. All the
other forms from the morning of 6/28 have one such number.; form no. 6819 has three numbers, indicating
that three persons were arrested for harassment as is corroborated by the chronological record of
complaints. Given the time on this form and the description by the RAT reporter of several persons trying
to stop someone from being arrested, I think it is a fair possibility that these three persons may have been
arrested for interfering with the arrest of either Van Ronk or the lesbian.
66
There is no Complaint Form numbered 6821 among the police records relevant to the Stonewall riots
made available.
26
03/08/16 3:03 AM
#X163034 to [information blacked out] DO
Eskow: Seven of those arrested were charged with unlicensed sale of liquor.
Truscott: A visit to the Sixth Precinct revealed the fact that 13 persons had been
arrested on charges which ranged from Van Ronk’s felonious assault of a police officer to
the owner’s illegal sale and storage of alcoholic beverages without a license.
Leitsch: Police … arrested the management and employees for illegal sale of
alcohol.
White: the Mafia owners were dragged out one by one and shoved into the wagon
. . . A few more prisoners—bartenders, hatcheck boys—
Eskow: Among those arrested was the doorman, Anthony Verra, 25, of 864 49th
St., Brooklyn, charged with unlawful sale, consumption and storage of liquor. . . . Judge
Nicholas F. Delagi in Criminal Court . . . held Verra on $500 bail for a hearing July 14
because there was a similar warrant out for him.
New York Post, June 28: By the time calm returned to the area, at least 12 persons
had been arrested on charges ranging from assault to disorderly conduct.
New York Post, June 29: Among those arrested was folk singer Dave Van Ronk,
33, of 15 Sheridan Sq., who was charged with felonious assault on a police officer.
Eskow: Judge Nicholas F. Delagi in Criminal Court paroled Van Ronk for a
hearing July 15
Criminal Court of the City of New York, docket number A9798: original charge
against Van Ronk: pL 120.05 [assault in the second degree]67
NYT, June 29: Dave Van Ronk . . . was . . . later paroled on his own recognizance.
Injuries to Police
Truscott: Two police officers had been injured in the battle with the crowd.
Eskow: Three cops suffered minor injuries.
NYT, June 29: four policemen [were] injured. . . . A patrolman suffered a broken
wrist, the police said.
NYT, June 30: Four policemen were injured, one suffering a broken wrist.
Leitsch: Apparently, only four persons were injured—all of them cops. Three
suffered minor bruises and scratches, and one a "broken wrist."
Police log: In attempting to stop the Police officers there were 4 Police officers
injured.
1)
Ptl Weisman Sec I 6 Pct Sta … received injury to right eye when he was
struck by an unkown object thrown by [name of person blacked out] of [name of place
blacked out] NYC. Ptl Weisman taken to St Vin Hosp. Treated thereat by Dr.
Camponella [sp?] and released. Diagnosis: Laceration right eye and scratched cornea;
Ptl reported sick . . .
2)
Ptl Holmes … 6 Pct … while effecting arrest of [name blacked out] he
was bitten on the right wrist. Treated by Dr. Companella St Vin Hosp and released.
Diagnosis: Abrasion rt. wrist. Ptl Holmes remained on duty
67
Van Ronk finally pled guilty to the lesser charge of pL 240.25, harassment, classified in 1969 as a
violation.
27
03/08/16 3:03 AM
3)
Ptl Scheu … of S2 6 Pct … while effecting arrest of [name blacked out]
of [name blacked out] Bky [sp?: Brooklyn?] To St Vin Hosp. Treated thereat by Dr.
Donnelly [sp?] and released. Diagnosis: Contusion and abrasion L. orbital [sp?] area,
Frac. L. wrist. Ptl Scheu reported sick …
Police Complaint Report number 6827: 3:00 am 6/28/69; 53 Christopher Street;
Crime or Offense (if any): Fel Assualt (sic); Defendant did strike arresting officer in the
left eye with a rolled up newspaper causing officer to fall to ground sustaining a fractured
left wrist, Aided #2643 Officer Scheu 25892 6th
Police Log:
4)
Ptl. Colquhoon [sp?] #13605-6 Pct. While effecting arrest of [name
blacked out] NYC received inj [sp? injury?] to lt. [left?] leg and head. Treated at St. Vin
Hosp by Dr. Camponella and released. Diagnosis Head Trauma, Tac. [sp? “Fac.” for
“fractured”?] left leg. Ptl reported sick.
City of New York Criminal Court Docket Book B, p. 156: Docket Number:
B16831; Name: Maas, Robert; Address: 91 Charles Street; Sex: M; Age: 26; Process: A;
Name [of complainant]: [blank]; Address [of Complainant]: [blank]; Offense: Dis Con
Resist Arrest; Name [of arresting officer]: Colquhoon; Assignment [of arresting officer]:
6; Date of Offense: [6/28]; Bail or Parole: [blank]; CHARGE REDUCED TO: [blank];
Fine: [blank]; Paid: [blank]; DISPOSITION OF CASE: P.G. 240.20 PL
UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE; DATE [case was disposed of]: 7/30/60; JUDGE:
Yeargin; COURT REPORTER: Dickstein; ATTORNEY NAME AND ADDRESS: LA;
BONDSMAN NAME AND ADDRESS: Par.; REMARKS ADJOURNMENTS: [blank].
Police Chronological Record of Complaints: No. 6827 Fel assualt (sic)
Injuries to Gay Persons
Leitsch: A number of people were arrested, and more were clubbed by the cops.
Some of those beaten were clubbed in the Charles Street station house after having been
arrested.
Ladder68: An unknown number of homosexuals were injured. . . . Several
homosexuals, who claim that they were suddenly attacked from behind while passing
through the area, are suing the Police Department for assault and battery.
Damage to the Stonewall Inn
Laurence: Meanwhile, pigs inside the bar were raising hell. Reports from the
scene say they looted a juke box, cigarette machine, telephone money, the safe, cash
register, and tips.
Smith: [Stonewall owners/managers:] When we got back in the place, all the
mirrors, phones, toilets, and cigarette machines were smashed. Even the sinks were
stuffed and running over. And we say the police did it. The courts will say that we are
innocent.
Leitsch Police Story: The Stonewall had chalked across its windows: "How Can
Inspector Smythe Drive a $15,000 Car on HIS Salary?" and charges that the police had
68
Note that the Ladder account does not say on what date these alleged attacks took place.
28
03/08/16 3:03 AM
"stolen" the money in the safe, a television set, and other items. . . . the police swear they
just impounded the money, etc., and counted the money before the Stonewall
management and gave receipts for the cash and other items. The television set was
reclaimed by a man who said he had loaned it to the Stonewall management, showed the
police a receipt, and the cops let him take it.69
Damage to Other Property
Police Complaint Report number 6823: Approx 3:00am70 6/28/69; 53
Christopher Street; Criminal Mischief; Compl [Complainant?] present at the SH [station
house?] reports to Ptl Hansen 15074 6th Pct that her auto parked across the street from 53
Christopher St. was stomped on during a disurbance (sic) at the time of occurance (sic),
Auto [information blacked out] Damage to the roof, hood, and rear engine cover.
The Evening Ends
RAT: People hung around till after 4 am talking in little groups. People were
excited and angry.
Truscott: By the time the last cop was off the street Saturday morning, a sign was
going up announcing that the Stonewall would reopen that night. It did.
Laurence: Overnight, signs were chalked on the walls outside the Stonewall:
“SUPPORT GAY POWER!” and “WE ARE OPEN!”
69
p. 6. Obviously this discussion with Leitsch and the alleged return of items took place after Friday night,
but the alleged actions of counting the money and giving receipts would have taken place Friday night, as
well as the seizure of the television set.
70
The time the complaint was made to the police was 11:00 a.m. on 6/28/69.
29
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Saturday Night, June 28
In the Afternoon the Stonewall is Repaired and Notices are Written on the New
Boards Placed in the Stonewall's Windows
Truscott: Protest set the tone for "gay power" activities on Saturday. The
afternoon was spent boarding up the windows of the Stonewall and chalking them with
signs of the new revolution: "We are Open," "There is all college boys and girls in here,"
"Support Gay Power—C'mon in, girls," "Insp. Smyth looted our: money, jukebox,
cigarette mach, telephones, safe, cash register, and the boys tips."
McDarrah71: [Graffiti on the front of the Stonewall Inn:] "TO FIGHT FOR OUR
COUNTRY THEY INVADED OUR RIGHTS." "GAY PROHIBITION CORUPT$ (sic)
COP$ FEED$ MAFIA"
Leitsch Police Story: The Stonewall had chalked across its windows: "How Can
Inspector Smythe Drive a $15,000 Car on HIS Salary?"
Leitsch: The next day [Saturday], the Stonewall management sent in a crew to
repair the premises, and found that the cops had taken all the money from the cigarette
machine, the juke box, the cash register and the safe, and had even robbed the waiter's
tips!
NYT, June 30: Graffiti on the boarded-up windows of the inn included: "Support
Gay Power" and "Legalize Gay Bars."
Rodwell: Many of you have noticed one of the signs which the "management" of
the Stonewall has placed outside stating "Legalize Gay bars and lick the problem."
Truscott: Among the slogans were two carefully clipped and bordered copies of
the Daily News story72 about the previous night's events, which was anything but kind to
the gay cause.
In the Evening a Crowd Gathers Across the Street From the Stonewall Inn
Truscott: The real action Saturday was that night in the street. The crowd was
gathered across the street from the Stonewall
Leitsch: A crowd filled the place and the street in front.
NYT, June 29: Throngs of young men congregated outside the inn last night [i.e.,
Saturday, June 28], reading aloud condemnations of the police.
NYT, June 30: The crowd had gathered in the evening across the street from the
scene of a police raid, the Stonewall Inn, at 53 Christopher Street.
71
Fred McDarrah, the Village Voice photographer made photographs of some of the rioters on Saturday
night. The first slogan quoted here is visible in one of those photographs. The photograph of the second
slogan was made the same weekend, if not on Saturday. For a copy of the photographs with these slogans,
see Gay Pride by Fred W. and Timothy S. McDarrah, pp. xxxvi and 3.
72
This seems to suggest that the Daily News published a story on Saturday, but I have never seen it. It
seems more likely that the story run on Sunday had been printed as well in an earlier edition. Is it possible
Truscott saw this on Sunday and is careless here, mixing his days up, maybe not realizing he was reporting
the front of the Stonewall Inn as he saw it on Sunday as if it were Saturday?
30
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Time the Crowd Gathers Is Late
White: Saturday night the pink panthers are back in full force.
Laurence: Saturday night, the action began about one a.m., according to an eyewitness, J. Marks, author of the book "Rock & Other Four-Letter Words."
NYT, June 30 [Sunday]73: yesterday morning . . . large crowds of young men,
angered by a police raid on an inn frequented by homosexuals, swept through the area.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints June 29, 69: No. 686674 1:30 AM
6 Ave & Christopher St Criminal Misch
NYT, June 30: Tactical Patrol Force units assigned to the East Village poured into
the area about 2:15 A.M.
Leitsch: By 2:30, nearly two hours after the bus had been delayed, the area was
again peaceful.75
The Crowd Begins To Chant and Sing
Leitsch: The crowds were orderly, and limited themselves to singing and shouting
slogans76 such as "Gay Power", "We Want Freedom Now" and "Equality for
homosexuals". Soon the chant changed to "Christopher Street belongs to the queens.
Liberate Christopher Street." . . . Crowds gathered outside early that night chanting
"Queen Power" and "Gay Power."
Singing and chanting filled Sheridan Square Park, and the crowds grew quickly.
Truscott: Friday night's crowd had returned and was being led in "gay power"
cheers by a group of gay cheerleaders. "We are the Stonewall girls/ We wear our hair in
curls/ We have no underwear/ We show our pubic hairs!"
Spencer: the Great Faggot Rebellion . . . was a pretty entertaining floor show—
the swishy cheer-leaders
Letter: The next day all over the Village—there were marches for Gay Power—
hippies joined the queers and straight places turned gay for the week-end—it was
complete madness in NYC
Some Protest Speeches Are Made and Literature About the Riots and What
To Do if Arrested Is Handed Out
NYT, June 30: Songs and chants about homosexuality were sung, and the police
were denounced for allegedly harassing homosexuals.
White: A mad left-wing group of straight kids called the Crazies is trying to
73
N.B.: The Times article, "Police Again Rout 'Village' Youths," dated Monday, June 30, speaks of events
"yesterday morning," meaning Sunday morning, i.e., A.M., hence late Saturday night, as opposed to Sunday
evening as one might suppose as the news is reported in a Monday paper.
74
There is no Complaint Form numbered 6866 among the police records relevant to the Stonewall riots
made available.
75
Note Leitsch says "nearly 2 hours after," suggesting therefore that the incident with the bus happened
sometime after 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, so therefore at approximately 12:45 a.m. Note also that Laurence's
account says the action began "about one a.m." and that his account begins with the slow-the-traffic
campaign, not the singing and chanting that Leitsch's and Truscott's accounts begin with, meaning that
Leitsch's and Laurence's chronologies are in reasonable agreement. I think therefore that 12:45 a.m. is a
good estimate of when the incident with the bus happened.
76
Original has "solagans."
31
03/08/16 3:03 AM
organize the kids, pointing out that Lindsay is to blame (the Crazies want us to vote for
Prococino, or "Prosciutto" as we call him). A Crazy girl launches into a tirade against
Governor Rockefeller "Whose Empire must be Destroyed." Straight Negro boys put their
arms around me and say we're comrades (it's okay with me—in fact great, the first
comraderie I've felt with blacks in years). Mattachine (our N.A.A.C.P.) hands out leaflets
about "what to do if arrested." Some man from the Oscar Wilde book store hands out a
leaflet describing to newcomers what's going on.
Ladder: Both the Mattachine Society of New York and the Homophile Youth
Movement began leafletting (sic) the Village in order to organize protest against the
conditions which sparked the riots.77
Clarke and Nichols78: Homosexual activists from various groups passed out
leaflets and literature in the streets. Some called for an end to Mafia control of gay bars.
All insisted that police stop their raids.
The Composition of the Crowd
Truscott: The crowd was gathered across the street from the Stonewall and was
growing with additions of onlookers, Eastsiders, and rough street people who saw a
chance for a little action.
Letter: hippies joined the queers and straight places turned gay for the week-end
White: A mad left-wing group of straight kids called the Crazies is trying to
organize the kids, pointing out that Lindsay is to blame (the Crazies want us to vote for
Prococino, or "Prosciutto" as we call him). A Crazy girl launches into a tirade against
Governor Rockefeller "Whose Empire must be Destroyed." Straight Negro boys put their
arms around me and say we're comrades (it's okay with me—in fact great, the first
comraderie I've felt with blacks in years). Mattachine (our N.A.A.C.P.) hands out leaflets
about "what to do if arrested." Some man from the Oscar Wilde book store hands out a
leaflet describing to newcomers what's going on.
Leitsch: Crowds gathered outside early that night chanting "Queen Power" and
"Gay Power." Mobs of people—gay people from all over town, tourists, Villagers, and
the idly curious—swelled the crowds. . . .
At first, the crowd was all gay, but as the weekend tourists poured in the area, they
joined the crowds. They'd begin by asking what was happening. When they were told
that homosexuals were protesting the closing of a gay club, they'd become very
77
The flyer Craig Rodwell, who started the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, was handing out was
probably "Get the Mafia and the Cops out of Gay Bars," a flyer he wrote that was issued in the name of
HYMN, the Homophile Youth Movement. Note that Leitsch wrote the leaflet called "The Hairpin Drop
Heard Around the World," an account of the riots handed out in the street during the riots. While the only
version of this leaflet I know of is the one mailed out with the July 1969 New York Mattachine Newsletter,
which ends on Sunday evening, suggesting that it could not have been handed out on Saturday, Leitsch told
me in an interview that he wrote several versions of the leaflet, continuing to update it throughout the riots,
but he has no memory of the exact number of times the leaflet was revised nor on what exact days the leaflet
was handed out.
78
Jack Nichols and Lige Clarke wrote a column for Screw called Homosexual Citizen. The date of this
article, called "Pampered Perverts,"—Screw editor Al Goldstein, to the chagrin of Nichols and Clarke, had
control of the titles given their column—is July 25, 1969. The article appeared on p. 16.
32
03/08/16 3:03 AM
sympathetic, and stay to watch or join in. One middle-aged lady with her husband told a
cop that he should be ashamed of himself. "Don't you know that these people have no
place to go, and need places like that bar? She shouted. (Several hours later, she and her
husband, with two other couples were seen running with a large group of homosexuals
from the night sticks brandished by the TPF.) . . .
(It was an interesting sidelight on the demonstrations that those usually put down
as "sissies" or "swishes" showed the most courage and sense during the action. The most
striking feature of the rioting was that it was led, and featured as participants "queens,"
not "homosexuals." "Homosexuals" have been sitting back and taking whatever the
Establishment handed out; the "queens" were having none of that. The "butch" numbers
who were around the area and who participated peripherally in the action remained for the
most part in the background79. It was the "queens" who scored the points and proved that
they were not going to tolerate any more harassment or abuse. Their bravery and daring80
saved many people from being hurt, and their sense of humor and "camp" helped keep the
crowds from getting nasty or too violent.) . . .
Christopher Street, from Greenwich to Seventh Avenues, had become an almost
solid mass of people—most of them gay.
The Crowd Seems To Include Some of the Same People Present the Previous
Evening
Truscott: Friday night's crowd had returned
White: Saturday night the pink panthers are back in full force.
Gay People in the Crowd Publicly Display Their Sexuality and Engage in Camp
Behavior
Truscott: Though dress had changed from Friday night's gayery to Saturday night
street clothes, the scene was a command performance for queers. If Friday night had been
pick-up night, Saturday was date night. Hand-holding, kissing, and posing accented each
of the cheers with a homosexual liberation that had appeared only fleetingly on the street
before. One-liners were as practiced as if they had been used for years. "I just want you
all to know," quipped a platinum blonde with obvious glee, "that sometimes being
homosexual is a big pain in the ass." Another allowed as how he had become a "leftdeviationist." And on and on.
79
This assertion is corroborated by a quote from an article Bob Kohler wrote titled "Where Have All the
Flowers Gone": "I remembered . . . the plea scrawled on the sidewalk in front of the Stonewall:
BUTCHES, WHERE ARE YOU NOW THAT WE NEED YOU?" The article appeared on p. 14 of the
January 1, 1970 issue (Vol. 1, no. 2) of Come Out! I do not include this quote above on the mere
technicality that this compilation is limited strictly to material written in 1969 and the publication data
misses that requirement by one day, although one could argue that the writing done on the sidewalk was
written in 1969. I should point out that I do not mean to suggest that no conventionally masculine men were
involved in the fighting, but I do accept that a highly disproportionate amount of physical courage was done
by the less conventionally masculine members of the crowd. Note also Leitsch's qualifying "for the most
part" and "participated peripherally."
80
Original has "darinf"
33
03/08/16 3:03 AM
EVO: Saturday night was very poor. Too many people showed up looking for a
carnival rather than a sincere protest. Queens were posing for pictures, slogans were
being spouted out, but nothing really sincere happened in the way of protest.
The Riots Had Been Covered by Radio
Ladder: WINS radio also gave rapid impartial coverage.81
Truscott: radio news announcements about the previous night's "gay power" chaos
had brought half of Fire Island's Cherry Grove running back to home base to see what
they had left behind.
McDarrah:82 [Only part of announcement visible:] WMC[A ] RADIO TONIGHT GAY
PO[WER?] 11:00 570 ON YOUR DI[AL]
Some Older, More Established Gay Men Feel Torn Over the Militant and Open
Behavior of the Younger Gay Men
Truscott: The quasi-political tone of the street scene was looked upon with
disdain by some, for radio news announcements about the previous night's "gay power"
chaos had brought half of Fire Island's Cherry Grove running back to home base to see
what they had left behind. The generation gap existed even here. Older boys had strained
looks on their faces and talked in concerned whispers as they watched the up-and-coming
generation take being gay and flaunt it before the masses.
White: Dreary middle-class East-Side queens stand around disapproving, but
fascinated, unable to go home, as though torn between their class loyalties, their desires to
be respectable, and their longing for freedom.
The Stonewall, Reopened, Tries To Lure Customers Back Inside
Truscott: As the "gay power" chants on the street rose in frequency and volume,
the crowd grew restless. The front of the Stonewall was losing its attraction, despite
efforts by the owners to talk the crowd back into the club. "C'mon in and see what da
pigs done to us," they growled. "We're honest businessmen here. We're American-born
boys. We run a legitimate joint here. There ain't nuttin bein' done wrong in dis place.
Everybody come and see."
NYT, June 29: . . . last night . . . A sign on the door said, “This is a private club.
Members only.” Only soft drinks were being served.
Leitsch: Since they had been charge[d]83 with selling liquor without a license, the
club was reopened as a "free store", open to all and with everything being given away,
rather than sold. The Stonewall reopened the next night and has remained open since,
serving only soft drinks84, although one may bring his own bottle.
81
Note that the Ladder says nothing about the date(s) of the coverage by WINS radio.
This graffiti is visible only if read as (half of) a palimpsest on the right hand side of the bottom
photograph on p. 3, Gay Pride.
82
84
Leitsch's assertion here is corroborated by Levin's account published July 8 that stated "now only soft
drinks are being sold—and to a much reduced clientele.
34
03/08/16 3:03 AM
A crowd filled the place85
The Crowd Grows, Spilling Over Into the Street
Leitsch: As the mob grew, it spilled off the sidewalk, overflowed Sheridan
Square Park86, and began to fill the roadway.
. . . Christopher Street, from Greenwich to Seventh Avenues, had become an
almost solid mass of people—most of them gay. No traffic could pass, and even walking
the few blocks on foot was next to impossible. One little old lady tried to get through,
and many members of the crowd tried to help her. She brushed them away and continued
her determined walk, trembling with fear and mummering (sic), "It must be the full
moon, it must be the full moon."
Laurence: The street was mobbed for about 5 blocks near the Stonewall bar.
A Police Officer Begins To Abuse the Crowd, Making the Crowd Hostile
Leitsch: One of the six cops who were there to keep order began to get smart and
cause hostility.
The Crowd Begins To Impede Traffic From Passing
Laurence: The street was mobbed for about 5 blocks near the Stonewall bar. "I
saw a taxi make the mistake of turning into the street when an enormous roar came from
about 400 people," said Marks. "They attacked the cab, banging in the sides, and
parading on the hood and top."
"The cabbie got out and began messing up a few kids and about fifteen jumped
him. Meanwhile, about 15 others were trying to let the passengers get to freedom.
"A city bus ran through the street, but the mass of people wouldn't let it through.
They created a thunderous sound beating on the sides of the bus before passing it through.
Leitsch: A bus driver blew his horn at the meeting, and someone shouted, "Stop
the Bus!". The crowd surged out into87 the street and blocked the progress of the bus. As
the driver inched ahead, someone ripped off an advertising card and blocked the
windshield with it. The crowd beat on the sides of the (empty) bus and shouted88
"Christopher Street belongs to the queens!" and "Liberate the street".
The cops got the crowd to let the bus pass, but then the people began a slowdown-the-traffic campaign. A human line across the street blocked traffic, and the cars
were let through one at a time.
The Crowd Also Attacks Police Cars and a High-Ranking Officer in One of Them89
85
Apparently Leitsch means filled the Stonewall Inn. If the Stonewall was giving away free beverages that
might help account for their success in filling the establishment. But if the free drinks were only soda this
may explain why patrons did not stay and were not interested in revisiting the club later (Truscott: "The
front of the Stonewall was losing its attraction," etc.).
86
Of course Leitsch is in error here and means Christopher Park.
87
Original has "in to."
88
Original has "shoit."
89
As I read the Leitsch and Barb accounts together, supplemented somewhat by Truscott, what I think
continued on the following page…
35
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Leitsch: Another car, bearing a fat, gouty-looking cop with many pounds of gilt
braid, chauffeured by a cute young cop came through. The fat cop looked for all the
world like a slave-owner surveying the plantation, and someone tossed a sack of wet
garbage through the car window and right on his face. The bag broke and soggy coffee
grounds dripped down the lined face, which never lost it's (sic) "screw you" look.
Another police car90 came through Waverly Place, and stopped at the corner of
Christopher. The occupants just sat there and glared at the crowd. Suddenly, a concrete
block landed on the hood of the car, and the crowd drew back. Then, as one person, it
surged forward and surrounded the car, beating on it with fists and dancing atop it. The
cops radioed for help, and soon the crowd let the car pass.
Laurence: "Police came and the crowd pulled away for a moment, then they
descended onto the prowl car. They first knocked off the flashing red light. Then they
started shaking the squad car sideways as if to tip it over."
The Focus of the Demonstration Moves to "The Corner"91
Leitsch: The focus of the demonstration shifted from the Stonewall to "The
Corner"—Greenwich Avenue and Christopher Street. The intersection, and the street
behind it, was a solid mass of humanity.
Local Police Are Unable To Control the Crowd
Leitsch: Squad cars from the 5th, 6th, 4th and 9th precincts had brought in a
hundred or so cops who had no hope of controlling the crowd of nearly two thousand
…continued from the preceding page
happened Saturday night is that a crowd collected in front of the Stonewall Inn, engaged in chanting,
singing and campy behavior; the crowd grew and spilled into the streets; a police officer abused the crowd
and made it angry; the angry crowd retaliated by blocking traffic, most notably an empty city bus. A police
car arrived at Waverly Place to make the protesters let the bus pass. The police car is attacked and the
protesters started up Christopher Street to Greenwich Avenue, where they run into the TPF, who push them
back down to Waverly Place, where they form a kick line. When the TPF charge the kick line, it breaks up
and the people in it run east on Waverly Place to Gay Street where they turn left (north) and come back onto
Christopher Street behind the TPF.
My conclusion based on many interviews is that both the tactics of forming a mock chorus line
opposite a line of police and that of breaking up when charged and coming back behind the police via a side
street were used numerous times during the Stonewall riots. Likewise, the sung lines "We are the Stonewall
Girls," etc., were employed on many occasions that weekend and also existed prior to the Stonewall Riots,
with apparently the only change in the lyrics occasioned by the riots being that of spontaneously switching
the phrase "Village girls" to "Stonewall girls."
90
Apparently the same police car as in the Barb account, which seems to be coming to the aid of the
blocked city bus?
91
My sense of things is that the encounters described as taking place at Greenwich and Christopher could
have happened after the kick line at Waverly Place described below. The two versions might be reconciled
in that huge numbers of people are involved and no one could see everything that was happening at once, so
Leitsch and Truscott may have been covering different events going on simultaneously. Still, if when the
TPF arrived Greenwich and Christopher were crowded, it made sense for the TPF, with their mission being
to establish control of the streets, to clear Greenwich Avenue first. Indeed, could it be that it was their
clearing of crowds from Greenwich and 6th Avenues that resulted in Christopher being blocked.
36
03/08/16 3:03 AM
people in the streets. Until this point, the crowd had been, for the most part, pleasant and
in a jovial mood. Some of the cops began to become very nasty, and started trouble. One
boy, evidently92 a discus-thrower, reacted by bouncing garbage can lids neatly off the
helmets93 of the cops. Others set garbage cans ablaze. A Christopher Street94 merchant
stood in the door of her shop and yelled at the cops to behave themselves. Whenever they
would head in her direction, she'd run into the shop and lock the door.
NYT, June 30: units from the Charles Street station house [the Sixth Precinct]
were unable to control a crowd of about 400 youths, some of whom were throwing bottles
and lighting small fires.
The TPF Arrives
Leitsch: Soon things got out of hand again, and the TPF was called once more.
The Tactical Police Force (TPF) arrived95 in city busses. 100 of them debarked at The
Corner, and 50 more at Seventh Ave. and Christopher. The nearly 200 cops required
several hours to clear the streets
Laurence: At that point [when the crowd was rocking the squad car], an enormous
group of TPF (Tactical Patrol Force) arrived with helmets and started marching in a line
and swept the crowd back.
NYT, June 30: Tactical Patrol Force units assigned to the East Village poured into
the area about 2:15 A.M.
The TPF Arrests a Member of the Crowd and Beat Him but Some of the More
Flamboyant Members of the Crowd Rescue Him
Leitsch: They [the TPF] huddled with some of the top brass that had already
arrived, and isolated beer cans, thrown by the crowd, hit their van and cars now and
again. Suddenly, two cops darted into the crowd and dragged out a boy who had done
absolutely nothing. As they carried him to a waiting van brought to take off prisoners,
four more cops joined them and began pounding the boy in the face, belly and groin with
night sticks. A high shrill voice called out, "Save our sister!" and there was a general
pause, during which the "butch" looking "numbers" looked distracted. Momentarily, fifty
or more homosexuals who would have to be described as "nelly", rushed the cops and
took the boy back into the crowd. They then formed a solid front and refused to let the
cops into the crowd to regain their prisoner, letting the cops hit them with their sticks,
rather than let them through.
The TPF Sweeps Back and Forth on Greenwich Avenue
Leitsch: The cops gave up on the idea of taking prisoners96, and concentrated on
clearing the area. They rushed both ways on Greenwich, forcing the crowds into 10th
Street and 6th Avenue, where the people circled the blocks and re-entered Christopher.
92
Original has "evidentally"
The helmets, however, probably indicates that these were TPF and not precinct police.
94
Original has "street"
95
Original has "arruved"
96
Original has "priosners"
93
37
03/08/16 3:03 AM
Then97 the cops formed a flying wedge, and with arms linked, headed down Greenwich,
forcing everyone in front of them into side streets. Cops on the ends of the wedge broke
off and chased demonstrators down the side streets and away from the center of the
action.
Part of the Crowd Heads Toward Greenwich Avenue and Encounters the TPF
Heading West from Greenwich Avenue Down Christopher Street
Truscott: The people on the street were not to be coerced [into the Stonewall Inn].
"Let's go down the street and see what's happening, girls," someone yelled. And down
the street went the crowd, smack into the Tactical Patrol Force, who had been called
earlier to disperse the crowd and were walking west on Christopher from Sixth Avenue.
Formed in a line, the TPF swept the crowd back to the corner of Waverly Place, where
they stopped.
White: The cops form a flying wedge at the Greenwich Avenue end of
Christopher and drive the kids down toward Sheridan Square.
NYT, June 30: The police linked arms and made several sweeps up and down
Christopher Street from Seventh Avenue South to the Avenue of the Americas.
Laurence: "At that point, an enormous group of TPF (Tactical Patrol Force)
arrived with helmets and started marching in a line and swept the crowd back."
At Waverly Place a Chorus Line Is Formed by the Protesters
Truscott: Formed in a line, the TPF swept the crowd back to the corner of
Waverly Place, where they stopped. A stagnant situation there brought on some gay
tomfoolery in the form of a chorus line facing the line of helmeted and club-carrying
cops.
Laurence: "The kids formed a chorus line opposite the helmeted police line and
started singing and dancing. The TPF advanced again and scattered them."
Spencer98: the one queen's Salome dance in front of the advancing police line,
capped by the crack as the Tactical Patrol Force prepared to step off with linked arms,
"Oh, look at the lovely Rockettes."
The Protestors Next Run up to Gay Street and Come Out Behind the Police
White: The cops form a flying wedge at the Greenwich Avenue end of
Christopher and drive the kids down toward Sheridan Square. The panthers, however,
run down Waverly, up Gay Street, and come out behind the cops, kicking in a chorus line,
taunting, screaming.
The Crowd Throws Objects at the TPF
NYT, June 30: Stones and bottles were thrown at the police lines, and the police
twice broke ranks and charged into the crowd.
97
98
Original has "They"
Note that Spencer does not say on what day he witnessed this particular vignette.
38
03/08/16 3:03 AM
The TPF Advances on the Protesters and Closes off the Area Around Christopher
Park
Truscott: Just as the line got into a full kick routine, the TPF advanced again and
cleared the crowd of screaming gay powerites down Christopher to Seventh Avenue. The
street and park were then held from both ends, and no one was allowed to enter—
naturally causing a fall-off in normal Saturday night business, even at the straight Lion's
Head and 55.
White: Sheridan Square is cordoned off by the cops. The United Cigar Store
closes, Riker's closes, the deli closes. No one can pass through the square; to walk up 7th
Avenue, you must detour all the way by Bleecker.
Spencer99: after a couple of nights, who needs all that tension? I go to great
lengths to stay out of Times Square as much as possible, and haven't been to any
demonstration since long before I turned in my police press pass. I sure don't want to
have to run some gantlet (sic) every night just to quietly slip into my friendly
neighborhood saloon. ….
One Christopher Street bar operator estimates that a single night of the indirect
embargo cost him $500 business.
Protesters Make Use of Greenwich Village's Side Streets to Circle Behind the Police
To Avoid Ceding Control of the Streets to the Police
NYT, June 30: As the crowd moved into numerous side streets, clearing of the
area became difficult, and the [TPF] units were not withdrawn until 4 A.M.
White: The cops form a flying wedge at the Greenwich Avenue end of
Christopher and drive the kids down toward Sheridan Square. The panthers, however,
run down Waverly, up Gay Street, and come out behind the cops, kicking in a chorus line,
taunting, screaming.
Leitsch: They [the TPF] rushed both ways on Greenwich, forcing the crowds into
10th Street and 6th Avenue, where the people circled the blocks and re-entered
Christopher.
Brutality of the TPF
Leitsch: the TPF again lived up to its reputation for violence and brutality.
Liscoe100: I witnessed the demonstrations that weekend and the actions by the
TPF. They were all given crack courses in sadism by one of Chicago's finest101, I'm sure.
I witnessed many senseless brutalities which there could be no justification for. One guy
walking on Sheridan Square across from the disturbance was with his chick (obviously
not into it) when a TPF came from behind and just split his head open with his club (one
99
Note that Spencer's article does not say what precise days he is speaking of, but gives one the feeling that
the area may have been blocked off by the police (and crowds?) for several days, maybe even past Sunday,
as, in this same context, he makes mention of the Mafiosi at the Stonewall Inn being interested in obtaining
a copy of the Voice coverage which came out on Wednesday.
100
Note that Liscoe does not say on what day he witnessed this event. I have placed it here as the date is
not known and it serves to corroborate Leitsch's general point.
101
Obviously a reference to the police riot at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.
39
03/08/16 3:03 AM
of New York's finest).
Wit, Anger, and Resourcefulness of the Crowd in Fighting the TPF
Leitsch: They made full use of their night sticks, brandishing them like swords.
At one point a cop grabbed a wild Puerto Rican queen and lifted his arm to bring a club
down on "her". In his best Mario Montez voice, the queen challenged, "How'd you like a
big Spanish dick up your little Irish ass?" The cop was so shocked he hesitated in his
swing and the queen escaped.
At another point, two lonely cops were chasing a hundred or more people down
Waverly Place. Someone shouted out that the queens outnumbered the cops and
suggested catching them, ripping off their clothes and screwing them. The cops
abandoned the chase and fled back to the main force for protection.
Nichols and Clarke: The police were scared shitless and the massive crowds of
angry protestors chased them for blocks screaming, "Catch them! Fuck them!"
Arrests and Injuries to Civilians
Truscott: The TPF positions in and around the square were held with only one
minor incident—one busted head and a number of scattered arrest (sic: should be
"arrests")—while the cops amused themselves by arbitrarily breaking up small groups of
people up and down the avenue.
NYT, June 30: Three persons were arrested on charges of harassment and
disorderly conduct.
Leitsch: Four . . . were arrested on Sunday morning, and many more were
detained, then released.
Police Chronological Record of Complaints June 29, 69: No. 6864102 3 AM
Christopher & Greenwich Ave. [illegible] & Crim Misch
Police Chronological Record of Complaints June 29, 69: No. 6866103 1:30 AM 6
Ave & Christopher St Criminal Misch
By 2:30 AM the TPF Has Regained Control of the Streets
Leitsch: The police action did eventually disperse the crowds, many of whom
abandoned the cause and headed to the docks for some fun. By 2:30, nearly two hours
after the bus had been delayed, the area was again peaceful. Apart from the two to three
hundred cops standing around the area, it looked like an unusually dull Saturday night.
At 3:00 AM Clubs Close and Gay People Try To Wrest Back Control of the Streets
Leitsch: Then, at 3 a.m. the bars closed, and the patrons of the many gay bars in
the area arrived to see what was happening. They were organized and another attempt
was made to liberate Christopher Street. The police, still there in great numbers,
102
There is no Complaint Form numbered 6864 among the police records relevant to the Stonewall riots
made available.
103
There is no Complaint Form numbered 6866 among the police records relevant to the Stonewall riots
made available.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
managed to break up the demonstrations. One small group did break off and attempt to
liberate the IND subway station at Sixth Avenue and Waverly Place, but the police, after
a hurried consultation as to whether they could act on the "turf" of the Transit cops, went
in and104 chased everyone out.
NYT, June 30: Yesterday's incidents were less violent [than the night before], but
the crowd swelled in late night when revelers emerged from nightspots in the area and
appeared to be angrier about the presence of helmeted police than about the Saturday raid.
The Action Ends Far Into Sunday Morning
Truscott: The crowd finally dispersed around 3:30 am.
NYT, June 30: [TPF] units were not withdrawn until 4 A.M.
Leitsch: By 5:30 a.m., the area was secure enough that the TPF police were sent
home, and the docks were packed tight with homosexuals having the times of their lives.
After all, everything was perfectly "safe"—all the cops were on "The Corner"!
104
Original has "a"
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
Sunday Night, June 29
The Stonewall Riots Are Hailed as Historic
Rodwell105: The nights of Friday, June 27, 1969 and Saturday, June 28, 1969 will
go down in history as the first time that thousands of Homosexual men and women went
out into the streets to protest the intolerable situation which has existed in New York City
for many years—namely, that Mafia (or syndicate) control of this city's Gay bars in
collusion with certain elements in the Police Dept. of the City of New York. The
demonstrations were triggered by a Police raid on the Stonewall Inn late Friday night,
June 27.
The Stonewall Inn Is Still Open
Leitsch: The Stonewall was again a "free store" and the citizenry was treated to
the sight of the cops begging homosexuals to go inside the bar that they had chased
everyone out of a few nights before.
Truscott: [in] the Stonewall . . . rock music blared from speakers all around a
room that might have come right from a Hollywood set of a gay bar.
White: Sunday night at the Stone Wall, now re-opened, though one room is
charred and blasted, all lights are smashed and only a few dim bulbs are burning, no hard
liquor being sold
There Is an Effort to Discourage Gay People From Continuing To Protest
McDarrah106: WE HOMOSEXUALS PLEAD WITH
OUR PEOPLE TO PLEASE HELP
MAINTAIN PEACEFUL AND QUIET
CONDUCT ON THE STREETS OF
THE VILLAGE -- MATTACHINE107
White: —the management posts an announcement: "We appreciate all of you
and your efforts to help, but the Stone Wall believes in peace. Please end the riots. We
believe in peace."
Gay People Are Back on the Streets . . .
Leitsch: Sunday night saw a lot of action in the Christopher Street area.
Hundreds of people were on the streets including, for the first time, a large "leather"
contingent.
Truscott: Sunday night was a time for watching and rapping. Gone were the "gay
power" chants of Saturday, but not the new and open brand of exhibitionism. Steps,
curbs, and the park provided props for what amounted to the Sunday fag follies as
105
This quotation begins Rodwell's flyer, "Get the Mafia and the Cops out of Gay Bars."
See Gay Pride, p. 3.
107
This neatly lettered sign was painted on the wood inside the window of the Stonewall Inn to the right of
the door. McDarrah took the photograph on June 29, 1969.
106
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
returning stars from the previous night's performances stopped by to close the show for
the weekend.
. . . but in Smaller Numbers than on the Previous Two Nights
Leitsch: However, there were never enough people to outnumber the large squads
of cops milling about, trying desperately to head off any trouble.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings were fairly quiet, except for small
outbreaks here and there. . . .
Truscott: It was slow going. Around 1 a.m. a non-helmeted version of the TPF
arrived and made a controlled and very cool sweep of the area, getting everyone moving
and out of the park. That put a damper on posing and primping, and as the last buses
were leaving Jerseyward, the crowd grew thin.
Laurence: Sunday, the word passed for another gay demonstration. Help was
expected from the SDS, but they never showed up.
The TPF Is out in Force Again
Leitsch: the large squads of cops milling about, trying desperately to head off any
trouble.
. . . all the cops in town108 seemed to be near The Corner again
There Are Small Acts of Resistance by Gay People
Leitsch: Inasmuch as all the cops in town seemed to be near The Corner again, the
docks were very busy, and two boys went to the Charles Street station house and pasted
"Equality for Homosexuals" bumper stickers on cop cars, the autos of on-duty cops, and
the van used to take away prisoners.
The Police Mentality
Leitsch: Most of the police, except for the TPF, had taken the first two nights of
rioting with some good humor. . . .
One of the most frightening comments was made by one cop to another, and
overheard by a MSNY member109 being held in detention. One said he'd enjoyed the
fracas. "Them queers have a good sense of humor and really had a good110 time," he said.
His "buddy" protested: "aw, they're sick. I like nigger riots better because there's more
action, but you can't beat up a fairy. They ain't mean like blacks, they're sick. But you
can't hit a sick man."
Allen Ginsberg Visits the Stonewall Inn
Truscott: Allen Ginsberg and Taylor Mead walked by to see what was happening
108
Original has "twon"
As far as I know no one has ever made note of a member of the Mattachine Society being arrested at the
Stonewall riots. It would be worthwhile to see if Leitsch can identify this person. However, there is the
possibility that he was merely temporarily detained—perhaps never even being taken to the Charles Street
station—and released without being charged ("being held in detention") or was he charged with a crime?
110
Original has "goo".
109
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and were filled in on the previous evenings' activities by some of the gay activists. "Gay
power! Isn't that great!" Allen said. "We're one of the largest minorities in the country—
10 per cent, you know. It's about time we did something to assert ourselves."
Ginsberg expressed a desire to visit the Stonewall—"You know, I've never been
in there"—and ambled on down the street, flashing peace signs and helloing the TPF. It
was a relief and a kind of joy to see him on the street. He lent an extra umbrella of
serenity of (sic: should be "to") the scene with his laughter and quiet commentary on
consciousness, "gay power" as a new movement, and the various implications of what
had happened. I followed him into the Stonewall, where rock music blared from speakers
all around a room that might have come right from a Hollywood set of a gay bar. He was
immediately bouncing and dancing wherever he moved.
Ginsberg Comments Upon the Changes He Notices as a Result of the Riots
Truscott: He left, and I walked east with him. Along the way, he described how
things used to be. "You know, the guys there were so beautiful—they've lost that
wounded look that fags all had 10 years ago." It was the first time I had heard that crowd
described as beautiful.
We reached Cooper Square, and as Ginsberg turned to head toward home, he
waved and yelled, "Defend the fairies!"111 and bounced on across the square. He enjoyed
the prospect of "gay power" and is probably working on a manifesto for the movement
right now. Watch out. The liberation is under way.
111
Original article has two colons here instead of a quotation mark.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
Monday Night, June 30
A Fairly Calm Night
Leitsch112: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings were fairly quiet, except for
small outbreaks here and there.
But Tempers Are Hot
Most of the police, except for the TPF, had taken the first two nights of rioting
with some good humor. By Monday night, tempers on both sides were short, and
animosity filled the air. Some of the police maintained enormous "cool", but others
deliberately tried to provoke trouble. "Start something, faggot, just start something," one
cop kept telling people. "I'd like to break your ass wide open." After saying that to
several dozen people, one man turned and said, "What a Freudian comment, officer!"
One Man Is Beaten and Arrested
The cop started swinging and hauled the guy off to a waiting wagon.
112
While it seems clear from Leitsch's account that the incident of the police officer saying, "I'd like to
break your ass wide open," and then beating and arresting a (presumably) gay man who makes a witty
remark in response took place on Monday night, there is nothing in the text to clearly indicate whether the
rest of the incidents reported as taking place after Sunday and before Wednesday took place on Monday or
Tuesday nights. I am placing the incident that Leitsch recounts about the firecrackers on Tuesday as Leitsch
does indicate "small outbreaks here and there" on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings. It seems
reasonable to expect that if Leitsch had witnessed nothing at all on Tuesday evening he would have reported
it as totally quiet versus "fairly" quiet. Obviously the incident with the pig's feet is linked to the firecracker
incident, which seems to happen on the same day as the two police officers yelling obscenities from a patrol
car. Also, as Leitsch has proceeded strictly chronologically throughout his narrative of the Stonewall riots,
it makes sense to assume that if something happened on Tuesday evening, it would be found just before
Leitsch's account of Wednesday night (which Leitsch explicitly identifies as taking place on Wednesday),
which is where the firecracker incident is indeed located.
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Tuesday Night, July 1
Another Fairly Calm Yet Angry Evening
Leitsch: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings were fairly quiet, except for
small outbreaks here and there. . . .
Two cops in a car cruised the streets, yelling obscenities at people, obviously
trying to start a fight. Another stood on the corner of Christopher and Waverly, swinging
his nightstick (speaking of Freudian, watch the cops in the Village caressing and
masturbating those billy clubs!) and making smart cracks to passersby. A wildly "fem"
queen sneaked up behind him, lit a firecracker and dropped it between his feet.
It exploded and he jumped into the air in a leap that Villella would have envied,
landing on a part of his anatomy that one queen called a "money-maker." He got up
screaming like a peasant woman and swinging his stick. The queen tossed another
firecracker under him, and when it went off a melee followed, during which the cop's
badge was lifted. . . . [retrieval of badge is related on Wednesday, July 2]
While there's nothing really funny about a man having a firecracker blow up under
his feet, there is something eminently satisfying about seeing a cop get scared, jump and
land on his backside—especially if the cop has been after you for years. And even more
so as he's a symbol of the cops who used to entrap, who raided bars, and who still harass
homosexuals at every opportunity.
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Wednesday Night, July 2
Demonstrations Are Sizable Once Again
EVO: On [Wednesday]113 night, July 2 everything became more than serious . . .
two hundred people . . . From no where (sic) . . . swelled to an estimated thousand
Leitsch: Wednesday night, the rioting broke out in full force.
NYT, July 3: a chanting crowd of about 500 persons
New York Post, July 3: a . . . crowd of several hundred youths
The Protests on Wednesday Are Still Against the Police Raid on the Stonewall Inn
the Previous Friday Night
New York Post, July 3: today . . . new disorders erupted in Greenwich Village
over a police raid on a gathering place for homosexuals. . .
The demonstration was the latest in a series since last Saturday when plainclothes
police raided the Stonewall.
NYT, July 3: last night in the Sheridan Square area of Greenwich Village . . . the
police dispersed a hostile crowd for the third114 time in the last week.
The confrontation resulted from a police raid last weekend on a local bar, the
Stonewall Inn, at 53 Christopher Street, which the police said was well known for its
homosexual clientele and was allegedly operating without a liquor license.
A Crowd Has Again Gathered Near the Stonewall Inn
New York Post, July 3: a shoving, bottle-hurling crowd of several hundred youths
outside the nearby Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher St., just east of Seventh Av.
The Evening's Events Had Begun by Around 10:00 P.M. at the Latest
EVO: Around 10:30 P.M. some queens set fire to some trash on the corner of
Waverly and Christopher.
Thomas115: On Wednesday night at about 10 a motorcade of police drove down
Christopher Street looking for trouble.
The Crowd Chants
NYT, July 3: a chanting crowd of about 500 persons
113
Di Brienza confuses his dates, writing "On Monday night, July 2," but July 2 was a Wednesday. That Di
Brienza got the day wrong and not the date is shown by his agreement on details with other accounts of
Wednesday, e.g., both he and the New York Times have a trash fire being set on Christopher Street.
114
Note the inherent corroboration here ("the third time") of Leitsch's accounts of Sunday, Monday, and
Tuesday nights as quiet. (Of course Truscott also corroborates that Sunday was generally quiet.) What this
means is that during the Stonewall Riots there were three nights of large-scale protests: Friday night,
Saturday night, and Wednesday nights.
115
John Thomas wrote a letter published in the July 10 Village Voice on p. 4.
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03/08/16 3:03 AM
One or More Trash Fires Are Set on Christopher Street
EVO: Around 10:30 P.M. some queens set fire to some trash on the corner of
Waverly and Christopher.
NYT, July 3: A few fires were set in trash baskets along Christopher Street.
Both the TPF and the Fire Department Respond to the Fires
EVO: TPF and the Fire Department responded.
The fires were put out
The TPF and 6th Precinct Police Officers Are Present Again
NYT, July 3: a chanting crowd of about 500 persons was scattered by members of
the Tactical Patrol Force and police of the Charles Street station
New York Post, July 3: Police reinforcements were sent to the Sheridan Square
area
Leitsch: Some [cops] seemed quite ready to depopulate Christopher Street . . .
some of them, particularly some of the TPF men, tried to achieve the same objective with
their night sticks.
EVO: TPF and the Fire Department responded.
The Mattachine Society Is Again Distributing Literature
New York Post, July 3: Flyers distributed by the Mattachine Society, a group
representing homosexuals, said the disorders showed that "gay people are reaching the
end of their patience."
Both the Police and the Demonstrators Are Angry, Little Humor Being Left on
Either Side
EVO: everything became more than serious.
NYT, July 3: a hostile crowd
Leitsch: Much of the good humor and high spirits of the weekend had dissipated,
and the street people were no longer half-serious, half-camping. The cops, who had been
caught off-guard and were on the defensive before, had taken the offensive and massive
retaliation was their goal.
Some seemed quite ready to depopulate Christopher Street the moment anyone
would give them permission to unholster their guns. Failing that, some of them,
particularly some of the TPF men, tried to achieve the same objective with their night
sticks.
Thomas: On Wednesday night at about 10 a motorcade of police drove down
Christopher Street looking for trouble.
Some Gay People Are Especially Angry About the Village Voice's Coverage of the
Stonewall Uprising
Leitsch: A group of gay people did consider burning down the offices of the
VILLAGE VOICE. That paper's editorial policy has long infuriated most homosexuals,
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as the paper pretends to be "liberal" and avant-garde, but actually is conservative and
uptight about homosexuality. They published two long "put down" articles116 about the
Christopher Street incidents which contributed heavily to the anger that incited the
Wednesday rioting after two relatively peaceful days.
White: Wednesday. The Voice runs two front page stories on the riots, both
snide, both devoted primarily to assuring readers that the authors are straight.
When the Fires Are Put Out, the Crowd Verbally Abuses the Police
EVO: The fires were put out, but then the crowd began to get on the pigs. Shouts
of Pig Motherfuckers, Fag Rapists and Gestapo could be heard all the way back to
Hoboken.
A Police Officer Grabs a Member of the Crowd and Three Other Officers Beat Him
in Front of the Crowd, Then Arrest Him
EVO: Then, one really fat Bircher-type pig grabbed a friend of mine, who was
promptly beaten in front of two hundred people by three other pigs, and then carted off to
a waiting patrol car.
The Beating of the Protester Sparks a Full Street Battle
EVO: This was it. From no where the crowd swelled to an estimated thousand,
and the battle was on.
During Which Another Demonstrator Is Beaten and Arrested
EVO: One head, standing on the corner of Waverly was unfortunate enough to
yell out "pig" just when the man was behind him. Well, in front of 1,000 witnesses, he
was pummeled, dragged, kicked and lifted down the length of Christopher Street to a
waiting squad car on Seventh Avenue.
An Attempt To Rescue One of the Arrested Men From the Police Fails
EVO: Some of us tried to get him away from the man. It was heartbreaking. If
more people would have helped the cat would not have been dragged off.
False Fire Alarms Are Set Off
New York Post, July 3: and false fire alarms were sounded.
Bottles And Other Objects Are Thrown at the Police . . .
New York Post, July 3: The melee climaxed a night of sporadic disorders during
which missiles were hurled at police
EVO: I have never seen anything worse than an infuriated queen with a bottle
116
The date of the Voice pieces can easily lead to confusion about chronology. The edition with Truscott's
and Smith's articles is dated July 3, Thursday, but although the Voice was dated Thursday it came out late
on Wednesday night (another useful corroboration that events on Wednesday night happened late in the
evening, incidentally).
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NYT, July 3: members of the Tactical Patrol Force and police of the Charles
Street station . . . were the targets occasionally of bottles and beer cans.
By Which One Police Officer Is Injured
New York Post, July 3: a patrolman was injured by a flying bottle early . . .
Patrolman Richard Adkins was struck on the left side of the face by a thrown bottle and
was treated at St. Vincent's Hospital.
Injuries to Protesters Are Extensive and Serious (Though not Life Threatening)
EVO: One head . . . was pummeled, dragged, kicked and lifted down the length of
Christopher Street . . . By the way, my buddy received seven stitches over his left eye for
his participation in a freedom of assembly rally.
Leitsch: At one point, 7th Avenue from Christopher to West 10th looked like a
battlefield in Vietnam. Young people, many of them queens, were lying on the sidewalk,
bleeding from the head, face, mouth, and even the eyes. Others were nursing bruised and
often bleeding arms, legs, backs and necks.
Arrests
New York Post, July 3: Five persons were arrested
Thomas: Police arrested five.117
NYT, July 3: At least four persons were arrested
EVO: one really fat Bircher-type pig grabbed a friend of mine, who was promptly
beaten . . . and then carted off to a waiting patrol car. . . . One head . . . unfortunate
enough to yell out "pig" just when the man was behind him . . . was pummeled, dragged,
kicked and lifted down the length of Christopher Street to a waiting squad car
Charges Against Those Arrested118
NYT, July 3: At least four persons were arrested and charged with harassment
Again, "Queens" Did More Than Their Share of the Fighting
EVO: For a while, the crowd became very warlike. I have never seen anything
worse than an infuriated queen with a bottle, or long nails. Believe me, get their ire up,
and you face the wrath of all the Gods that ever lived. . . .
117
Since Thomas's statement was published on July 10 and the Post reported 5 arrests on July 3, one has to
entertain the possibility that Thomas is merely repeating what he has heard reported.
118
At the end of "D.D.'s NEW YORK" column in the August MSNYN there is a separate notice headed
BOYS OUT OF JAIL. It reads: "Those who were at the special meeting on July 16 at Str. John's-in-theVillage will remember that we took up a collection, which totalled $105.00, to try to get two boys out of jail
who had been arrested during the rioting. Dick Leitsch turned the money over to one of our lawyers, who
then took the necessary steps to get the two out on bail. They still have to stand trial, but at least they are
out of jail, and will be defended by Mattachine lawyers." The notice gives no indication of the date on
which these men were arrested, so I place it here with the last written mention of arrests in connection with
the Stonewall riots.
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Revolution is being heard on Christopher Street, only instead of gutteral (sic) MC5 voices, we hear it coming from sopranos, and altos.
Leitsch: Young people, many of them queens, were lying on the sidewalk,
bleeding . . .
The exploiters had moved in . . . blacks and students who want a revolution, any
kind of revolution . . . swelled the crowd . . . but "graciously" let the queens119 take all the
bruises and suffer all the arrests. (If they have no more courage than they displayed on
Christopher Street, their revolution is a long way off.)
The Police Badge Taken From an Officer the Previous Day Is Retrieved
Leitsch: The next day120 [see Tuesday Leitsch account], the badge turned up
hanging on a tree in Washington Square Park, stuck into a string of pickled pigs' feet.
When the cops found the badge-stuck pigs' feet, they didn't take them down from
the tree—they beat the pigs' feet to the ground, then picked up the badge.
Large Numbers of Radical Left Groups and Street Gangs Are Present
Leitsch: The composition of the street action had changed. It was no longer gay
frustration being vented upon unsuspecting cops by queens who were partly violent but
mostly campy. The queens were almost outnumbered by Black Panthers, Yippies,
Crazies and young toughs from street gangs all over the city and some from New Jersey.
The exploiters had moved in and were using the gay power movement for their own ends.
A lot of them were looking for a fight, and had the police not come, they probably
would have started the old game of street gangs everywhere, "beating up a queer." The
blacks and students who want a revolution, any kind of revolution, were there to exploit.
They swelled the crowd and tried to recruit, but "graciously" let the queens take all the
bruises and suffer all the arrests. (If they have no more courage than they displayed on
Christopher Street, their revolution is a long way off.)
Village Stores Are Looted
Leitsch: Looting began Wednesday evening. . . . The first shop to get hit was the
"Gingerbread House", a toy shop . . . other shops [were also] broken into
Who Did the Looting
Leitsch: Obviously, little of it was done by people who live in and frequent
Christopher Street and environs, because all the most unlikely places were looted. The
first shop to get hit was the "Gingerbread House", a toy shop run by a delightful little lady
who is a friend of everyone on Christopher. The other shops broken into were also run,
for the most part, by nice people, sympathetic to the gay cause and the plight of the street
queen.
119
It might be debatable whether Leitsch is using the word "queen" in this particular instance simply as a
synonym for "homosexual" rather than to necessarily designate a less traditionally masculine male
homosexual.
120
For notes on the chronology of this event, see note 106: Leitsch does not say what day the officer's
badge was stolen. From internal evidence I infer that this incident happened on Tuesday night.
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The really likely places, the "fag shops" that overprice their wares and bleed the
gay market for exorbitant prices were left alone. Shops whose managers complain the
loudest about the cruising and swishing in the neighborhood were also, surprisingly, left
alone. Observers in the know doubt if the looting was done by gay people.
Duration of Protests Wednesday Night
New York Post, July 3: The arrests were made as police spent nearly an hour
sweeping the area of protesters
EVO: Around 10:30 P.M. some queens set fire to some trash on the corner of
Waverly and Christopher. . . .
This all ended within an hour, and peace was restored.
Protesters Vow To Return
New York Post, July 3: protesters . . . vowed to return tonight [Thursday, July 3]
to renew the demonstration.
EVO: This all ended within an hour, and peace was restored. But the word is out.
Christopher Street shall be liberated. The fags have had it with oppression. Revolution is
being heard on Christopher Street, only instead of gutteral (sic) MC-5 voices, we hear it
coming from sopranos, and altos.
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Thursday Night, July 3
Efforts To Continue the Protests Fail
Leitsch: Police and others had expected a tremendous influx of people over the
long July 4 week-end that started Thursday night. People came in droves but conditions
remained generally calm. Sporadic efforts were made to start trouble—by people who
can best be described as "outside agitators", by gay people, and too often by uptight cops
who tried to start trouble to give them an excuse to start bashing heads again.
Despite those efforts, no major outbreak erupted. It was almost as if everyone had
decided that the point had been made and any further action would only bring on a
backlash. As it was, everything worked out to give the homosexuals of New York City
tremendous gay power.
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