Soon the screams of gay liberation spread. The crowd outside grows larger and larger, congregating to find out what the police cars are doing there. The men refuse to show their identifications for yet another time, and the police start carting everyone off. The lights go on and the music stops – as per usual. It’s the only bar for gay men in New York City where dancing is allowed. and a total of eight police officers burst in through the double doors and shout: “Police! We’re taking the place!” Normally police raids, which have become a routine occurrence at this time, were always tipped off beforehand, especially considering that the club is owned by the Genovese crime family.
The walls are painted black and the only lights that are on are pulsating gel ones. We’re at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.
