Stonewall was a riot that lasted for 6 nights. Gay people fought the police.

[readmoreoften]

They threw molotov cocktails into the small business which was their "own" club. (It was mafia owned.) The streets were covered in blood. Puerto Rican Young Lords, Black Panthers, and Yippies joined the fight, but it was the LGBT bar folks who struggled hardest. I'm sure windows were broken and stuff was stolen by miscreants in the crowd.

And without the Stonewall Riots, there would be no modern LGBT movement.

Something may come of this. Nothing may come of this. Historical forces are beyond a "vote" on DU or elsewhere of what is "right" and "wrong."

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Exultant Democracy]

2. So very true. nt

[RainDog]

3. I read what's happening now and wonder what the outcome/effect will be

obviously I don't want people to get hurt, don't want small businesses to suffer - but the reality is that people who are suffering from severe economic hardship or lack of concern don't have access to those who would be the "proper" targets of their ire.

obviously organized political strategy would be more effective.

but this riot began because of anger over a shooting - rumors have fed it, so has economic depression. people have been selling things they stole for as much as they can get - when people have no employment - things like this are much more likely to happen.

so many of us, over and over, have noted that it is in the interests of the wealthy and the middle class to maintain an adequate social safety net because it results in a more stable society.

the idea that it's better to spend govt money to pay someone to dig holes rather than have them stew in frustration for lack of employment seems to be well-illustrated in this case.

I hope for as little damage and harm as possible - and then I hope the govt. responds to the anger of the poor and disenfranchised.

Whether I approve or disapprove has little to nothing to do with what's happening now with the riots. History happens. People get to the point that they feel they have more to lose by letting everyone else go about their lives without notice.

[readmoreoften]

4. Exactly. And they are losing much more than us because they started so far ahead of us.

Privatization schemes in a nation with good social safety nets is likely to get a bit more of a reaction than privatization schemes in the US.

[Pooka Fey]

5. K&R

[EFerrari]

6. Yes. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

7. K&R

There are many shades of gray that don't fit into "right" and "wrong."

London reminds me of D.C. in the '60s. Riots there and elsewhere led to some improvements nationally--but it still took decades before 14th Street NW in D.C. even began to recover. I hope that won't be the case here.

[readmoreoften]

8. It is tragic that people feel so politically powerless. I just hope this leads to organizing for

real change.

[pinboy3niner]

11. Amen, brother! nt

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[TriMera]

10. K&R. n/t