The New York Police Department has apologised for the raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar 50 years ago and has described the anti-gay laws of the time as discriminatory and oppressive.
Gay rights advocates have welcomed the apology, which they've sought from the NYPD for years.
Police raided the Stonewall, a Greenwich Village tavern, in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969. At the time, homosexuality was criminalised and most gay bars, including the Stonewall, were operated by organised crime.
Patrons of the bar fought back that night and several days thereafter, leading to unprecedented demonstrations for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
A couple embraces outside the Stonewall Inn in New York. Source: AAP
Activists memorialised the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion with what they called Christopher Street Liberation Day, starting an annual gay pride tradition that is now celebrated around the world.
The NYPD had resisted previous calls to apologise, but Commissioner James O'Neill told a gathering of gay rights advocates that this month's World Pride events in New York for the 50th anniversary of Stonewall marked the right moment.
"What happened should not have happened," Commissioner O'Neill said. "The actions taken by the NYPD were wrong, plain and simple. The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologise."
Organisers expect some 4 million people to visit New York later this month for World Pride. New York's parade will be held on June 30.
James Fallarino, spokesman for the group NYC Pride, said he welcomed the apology.
"He represents the institution, and the institution and their violence against our community is one of the reasons why Pride exists," he said. "It's really important that the institution take responsibility for what happened."
Spectators cheer during the New York City gay pride march. Source: Getty Images
Former Commissioner William Bratton refused to apologise three years ago while acknowledging the raid was a "terrible experience."
Seymour Pine, the retired deputy police inspector who led the raid, apologised in 2004 at a New York Historical Society event.
