In the 1960s, homosexuals were widely persecuted. Gay bars were frequently targeted for police raids. In 1969, a raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York turned violent as fed-up patrons began to riot, throwing bottles at the police officers. The protest quickly spilled over into the surrounding streets, and large numbers of riot police were required to restore order. The Stonewall riot was followed by several days of demonstrations for gay rights. The incident had spawned a gay-rights movement, and would lead to the formation of the Gay Liberation Front and many other gay rights organizations.
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