Stonewall Inn – Fifty+ Years in History

Christopher Park, located immediately across the street from the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, was named a national historic monument in June 2016. The Proclamation establishing the monument stated in part that in “the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, a riot broke out in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, at the time one of the City's best known LGBT bars. Over the course of the next several days, more demonstrations and riots occurred in the surrounding neighborhood including Christopher Park. During these days, because of its strategic location across from the bar, Christopher Park served as a gathering place, refuge, and platform for the community to voice its demand for LGBT civil rights. The Stonewall Uprising is considered by many to be the catalyst that launched the modern LGBT civil rights movement.” 

On Wednesday, November 15, Marek P. Bute ’05, will be the Keynote Speaker at RWU Law’s Inaugural Stonewall Lecture held on the Bristol Campus. RWU Law’s annual Stonewall Lecture Series honors the numerous individuals who have fought for LGBTQ equality and justice, and the many contributions they have made to advance this modern day civil rights movement.

The events of 1969, known as the Stonewall uprising or riots have been recognized not only for their role in the LGBT rights movement, but also for playing an essential role in feminist history The searches “stonewall uprising” or “stonewall riots” on HeinOnline provide many opportunities to learn more about legal influence of those individuals who took a stand over fifty years ago.

For more from the perspective of a historian, social scientist, or political scientist, consider searching in JSTOR, Project MUSE, or Political Science Complete. 

Don’t forget! The RWU Law Librarians can assist you with your research using all University licensed databases. Contact us at lawlibraryhelp@rwu.edu to make an appointment for a research consultation.