Police Commissioner Apologizes For NYPD Raid Of Stonewall: 'This Would Never Happen In The NYPD In 2019'

The "raided premises" sign just inside the door at the Stonewall Inn

Police Commissioner James O'Neill apologized on Thursday for the NYPD's violent raid on the Stonewall Inn, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the uprising later this month.

"I think it would be irresponsible to go through World Pride month and not to speak of the events at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969," O'Neill said during a police briefing in Manhattan, referring to the police violence that sparked clashes widely seen as a catalyst for the gay rights movement.

"While I'm certainly not going to stand up here and pretend to be an expert on what happened at Stonewall, I do know what happened should not have happened," he continued. "The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologize. I vow to the LGBTQ community that this would never happen in the NYPD in 2019."

The police commissioner's comments came hours after the organizers of NYC Pride called on the department to formally apologize for their actions at Stonewall—something that O'Neill's predecessor had previously declined to do. Earlier this morning, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said he would speak with police brass about issuing an apology.

James Fallarino, the Media Director for NYC Pride, told Gothamist that O'Neill's comments were a "good first step toward working to address decades of police violence that LGBTQIA+ people, especially people of color, have experienced."

He added, "It does not take away that violence, but it is certainly a start toward creating a better relationship between the community and the police. As the eyes of the world are on this city for WorldPride, it's important for the NYPD to demonstrate this NYC-style leadership."

In addition to the city's annual pride festivities, this year marks the first time that New York will host WorldPride, an international event that takes place in a different city every three years. Roughly three to four million people are expected to come to New York for the month-long celebration, which features parades, festivals, and live music (including a performance from Madonna).

In preparation for the event, the NYPD said on Thursday that they were launching the "Lavender Alliance," an initiative housed under the department's counterterrorism unit that will serve as a liaison between the NYPD and LGBTQ groups.

Meanwhile, the debate about whether police officers should be allowed to attend pride events in uniform continues to spark controversy in cities across the country. During last year's Pride March in Manhattan, a dozen people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for protesting the inclusion of corporations and cops at the event.

"We understand that the presence of the NYPD at an event that exists because of police violence is something that's very difficult for a lot of people in our movement," said Fallarino. "We hope this apology today will start the process of bringing our communities together."