Forty years ago, a New York City bar called the Stonewall Inn shot to global attention when its gay clientele staged a revolt against police harassment, launching the US homosexual rights movement. The popular bar in the Greenwich Village community gave its name to the spontaneous uprising that rocked the neighborhood for five consecutive nights, as homosexuals fought back against police raids targeting gay-friendly establishments. “Stonewall was a surprise — it was a surprise to everyone that participated, as much as it was a surprise to the city,” said Martin Boyce, who back then was a 16 year-old participant in the riots.

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