The Stonewall riots, in New York City's Greenwich Village, were a series of spontaneous, violent protests by the LGBTQ+ community against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn. This marked a significant turning point in the gay rights movement. The 1950s and 1960s saw heavy persecution of homosexuals, with bars like the Mafia-owned Stonewall Inn serving as rare safe havens. The riots led to the formation of activist groups and the initiation of pride parades, with the Stonewall site now a national monument.
