RECLAIM STONEWALL!
The Stonewall Riots were a turning point in history. It was the first time where transgendered people, gays, bis and lesbians collectively and militantly fought back against the brutality of the police – the long arm of the law; a law that criminalized their existence.
The riots stretched over six nights from 27 June to 2 July 1969 in NYC, USA. The people that got involved in the street fights against the police were a mixed crowd. There were anarchists, left-libs, homo-hools and what not. Who knows? But for sure one thing united them:
They had all reached boiling point. The bootheel of oppression can only grind so far, before canned heat pops the jar.So, to whom does Stonewall belong? As anarchists we say: Stonewall was a riot! The system only gave us rights, ‘cause we gave them riots!
And if anybody is going to genuinely invoke Stonewall in any way, then they must also subscribe to the means for social change applied there: militant struggle.
The Stonewall Riots were more or less a spontaneous outburst rather than planned. Nonetheless, it fueled a multitude of different political new organizations: from grassroots to parliamentarian.
Today we want to honor all the fights that allow us to stand here, openly and without fear of persecution; but at the same time we want to say: We refuse to have our sexualities and/or gender identities be appropriated to give pink legitimacy to this shit system we live in!
This is our anarchist salute to all the people who fought at Stonewall! The struggle continues – it stretches far beyond Stonewall and can never be reduced to a struggle for ‘gay rights’ within a system based on class and exploitation of any sort.
The goal is social emancipation – anarchism! – and no minority can achieve it on its own. Nevertheless, none but ourselves can represent ourselves, therefore we, as anarchist LGBT, have a distinct and necessary organizing to contribute withBlack, red, green and pink – social struggles have to link!
Stonewall was a riot – we will not be quiet!
Reclaim Stonewall!