President Barack Obama announced his decision to designate the site of the Stonewall Uprising for gay rights in New York City as a national monument.
The Stonewall Inn was a gay bar that was raided by the New York City police department to enforce a law making it illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to homosexuals. Gay Americans rioted in response, organizing activists and rallies across the country in support of gay rights in America.
In a YouTube video, Obama recalled the 1969 riots, praising the gay rights activists that reacted to the Stonewall arrests.
“Stonewall will be our first national monument to tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights,” Obama said. “I believe our national parks should reflect the full story of our country — the richness and diversity and uniquely American spirit that has always defined us. That we are stronger together, that out of many we are one.”