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Marsha P. Johnson In The 1969 Stonewall Riots In New York City

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Marsha P. Johnson was a transwoman who became an important face to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in New York City. She was recognized by being herself and fearing no judgment of the harassment and ridicule of dressing and living as a woman, while having the masculine features of a man. She was an eccentric woman who was known for her exotic hats and jewelry which stood out to the public and attracted attention to her. Johnson was an activist at the forefront of key moments in history. First, she played a large role in the 1969 Stonewall Riots, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons

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Stonewall Riots Research Paper

...During the 60's it was difficult to be in the LGBT+ community. In New York, and many other states, it was illegal to be gay in public, and even businesses and gay bars were frequently raided and closed. One night at The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located in Greenwich Village, New York, a police raid turned violent. Customers at the bar stood on the street and watched as police arrested employees, and threw 3 drag queens and a lesbian into a wagon. This had happened multiple times before, and usually resulted in the patrons scattering back to their homes. This time, however, the people in the bar were tired of being treated this way so they took a stand. Instead of scattering and returning to their homes, they stood outside the bar and began shouting at the policemen who, having been accustomed to peaceful patrons and uneventful raids, were still inside the bar. The policemen barricaded themselves inside the bar and called for backup....

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