riots white night riots series violent events sparked announcement sentencing san_francisco mayor member city openly gay elected officials united_states events took place night night milk 49th birthday san_francisco earlier day white convicted voluntary possible conviction actions white convicted degree murder originally charged outraged city gay community set violent reaction gay americans riots new_york_city credited beginning modern gay rights movement united_states gay community san_francisco longstanding conflict white status police officer intensified community anger initial demonstrations took place peaceful march district san_francisco crowd arrived san francisco city hall violence began events caused hundreds thousands dollars worth property damage city hall surrounding area injuries police officers hours riot broken police raid gay bar san_francisco patrons beaten police riot gear dozen arrests course raid people later sued following days gay leaders refused apologize events night led increased political power gay community culminated election mayor term following november response campaign promise appointed pro gay chief police increased recruitment gay people police force eased tensions background gay history san_francisco american settlers moved west california 18th 19th centuries largely male miners events created broadly male society region romantic friendships common tolerated san_francisco settled ratio men women remained high resulting growth culture open minded homosexuality city notorious district named coast earned city reputation society leading san_francisco known sea end prohibition prompted opening gay bars notable female shows main draw lesbian bar known world war san_francisco major point servicemen stationed military concerned male homosexuality policy dismissing servicemen caught known gay establishments blue men faced communities families chose remain city number men remained significant factor creation homosexual community san_francisco gay activism san_francisco affirmed reilly right assemble peacefully assist legal problems labor activist started living room los_angeles years later started women san_francisco initially place fear harassment arrest years organizations learned grew similar goals helping general society working legal reform repeal laws assisting arrested groups headquartered san_francisco police continued arrest large numbers routinely bringing wagons gay bars arresting patrons charges usually dismissed arrested lost newspapers printed names addresses places employment officers notified employer family accused causing damage new year eve benefit event held police stood outside large effort took photographs entering building later officers demanded allowed inside lawyers explained california law event private party enter bought tickets lawyers arrested ministers attendance held press conference morning catholic archbishop strongly condemned actions police attempt reduce harassment officers tasked improving police department relationship gay community promoted non education hoping prove respectable normal living white middle class scope groups active community cross street queens worked primarily district city denied service activists restaurant days later early morning police arrived arrest patrons drag riot ensued drag queen threw contents cup coffee face police officer response officer grabbing arm cafe plate glass windows shattered days later replaced years later riots significant impact riots american history newly forming community fought authorities political san_francisco continued grow haven street quiet neighborhoods large homosexual population 1960s growth thousands gay men migrated san_francisco turning quiet irish working class neighborhood street center activity street opened camera following year dissatisfied level bureaucratic indifference gay community milk decided run city supervisor multiple campaigns culminating election political voice gay community promoting mayor street percent population san_francisco reported gay labor day tensions gay community came head man beaten arrested walking street police reinforcements suddenly appeared street badge numbers hidden beat dozens gay men arrested charged harvey milk dubbed million lawsuit filed police elected mayor appointed chief police gain position african americans branded liberal law enforcement officers country soon earned police force gain implemented policies proved unpopular staff painting police cars powder blue barring officers drinking job policies angered police force asked gay police officer came gain replied certainly think gay policeman gay policeman came support percent statement sent police department national headlines week gain tenure remark mayor extremely unpopular police intensely disliked police rumors circulated plan right wing police officers assassinate gain year later similar plans formed targeting mayor informed threat hired bodyguard dissatisfied city politics financial difficulty failing restaurant business low annual salary police officer supervisor resigned november meeting association white announced wanted seat liberal saw opportunity end split board blocked progressive initiatives wanted introduce intense lobbying milk silver state announced november seat vacated morning white went city hall armed police revolver extra coat pocket avoid metal entered building basement window proceeded office mayor following brief argument white shot mayor shoulder chest twice head white walked office gun asked milk join white shot milk wrist shoulder chest twice head execution style supervisor heard called police found milk stomach blood pouring head wounds riots verdict white found guilty voluntary mayor supervisor milk prosecutor asked finding degree murder special circumstances permitted death penalty terms recently adopted capital punishment law california proposition special circumstances alleged case mayor killed order block appointment fill city supervisor seat resigned multiple people killed white sentence reduced called defense judgment provoked outrage community defense presented psychiatrist jury stating white diminished capacity depression amounts food white consumed cited mental state stated refined present white diet preceding killings fueled depression jury composed persons predominantly roman catholic working class white essentially demographic city felt sympathy white jury heard tape recording white confession consisted highly emotional pressure members jury sympathy defendant white represented old guard san_francisco wary influx minority groups city represented conservative traditional view liberal forces city like milk perceived conjunction fire department raised defend white earned anger gay community received conviction offense voluntary sentenced seven years months prison good behavior chance released serving thirds sentence years hearing verdict district attorney said wrong decision jury overwhelmed emotions sufficiently analyze evidence deliberate calculated murder defense client white attorney stated white filled remorse think bad condition white later confirm killings told police inspector planned kill milk plans kill supervisor silver believed politicians attempting block supervisor quoted white having said mission wanted biggest snake thing march told verdict milk friend activist addressed audience people gathered street telling verdict shouts bars streets jones led crowd street numbers bolstered people emerging bar crowd marched numbering people interview jones gave voice feeling crowd began group street news verdict spread stating rage people face saw people known years furious thing people know neighborhood boys corner people ridden bus screaming blood violence city hall time crowd reached numbers increased protesters shouted kill dan white dump reference mayor handful police officers duty scene uncertain deal situation angry gay crowd similarly uncertain proceed protesters convinced police prosecution avoid severe sentence white prosecutor denied repeatedly death members crowd tore ornamental work building wrought iron doors break floor windows friends monitored attempted hold crowd including lover formation police appeared north attempting hold mob sat grateful reinforcements officers holding crowd instead attacked night sticks young man kicked smashed window police car lit pack matches set fire burning short time fuel tank exploded dozen police cars automobiles destroyed similar fashion photo cover album shows police cars fire taken night crowd members threw tear gas stolen police vehicles riots began break mob disrupting traffic electric disabled overhead wires pulled violence broke police officers outnumbered police chief standing inside city hall ordered officers attack simply stand ground mayor supervisor silver addressed attempt situation mayor said received news verdict disbelief stated gotten away murder simple silver injured struck flying object protesters injured police retaliation nearly hours shouts angry crowd officers moved quell riot police reportedly covered black tape preventing identification attacked dozens police officers swept crowd tear gas force protesters away building police surprised resistance faced protesters attempted push tree branches torn city buses asphalt ripped street weapons man ignited police car shouted reporter sure paper ate officers injured dozen arrests second stage violence police raid riot hours later predominantly gay neighborhood elephant walk bar injured occupants order restored city hall cars carrying dozens officers headed officers entered gay bar called elephant walk despite orders shouted dirty sick shattered large plate glass windows bar attacked patrons minutes police withdrew bar joined officers attacking street incident lasted nearly hours police chief heard unauthorized elephant walk raid immediately went location ordered men leave later night freelance reporter saw group police officers celebrating downtown bar city hall day killings happened smiling officer explained tonight smiling police officers estimated members public hospitalized course riot civil grand jury convened find ordered attack ended settlement covering personal injury claims damages aftermath morning gay leaders convened committee room supervisor replaced milk militant clear apologize riots informed press conference harvey milk people apologize society going deal nice little people capable violence going anymore reporters surprised public official violent acts previous night expecting apology subsequent attempts find gay leader statement proved unsuccessful evening 49th birthday city officials considered permit rally planned night decided fear sparking violence officials stated rally channel community anger positive police san_francisco neighboring towns placed alert mayor coordinated plans police trained monitors eye crowd approximately people gathered market streets mood angry subdued officers monitored crowd distance crowd engaged peaceful celebration milk life attendees danced popular disco songs drank beer sang tribute milk night hours people held demonstration square manhattan protest verdict officers observed protest began arrests planned days ahead sponsored october people marched washington gay rights carried portraits milk honoring legacy rally milk intended organize instead tribute life released prison january serving years seven year month sentence evening following release people marched street burned state authorities reportedly feared assassination attempt response urged people violence stated harvey death penalty person white committed suicide carbon poisoning october connected rubber car exhaust system routed interior vehicle let fill carbon mayor said latest tragedy close sad chapter city history according lawyer white expressed remorse killings february white reportedly stated cause inner turmoil inspector said contrary commenting time white express remorse form deaths milk analysis causes community long history conflict following world war gay bars subject frequent raids attempts alcohol licenses accused serving alcohol criminal act time growing political economic power city gay community conflicted established numbers conservative institutions police fire departments police arresting average men year public sex charges contrast arrests new_york_city quarter san_francisco reported gay time charges dismissed men given harsh sentences found guilty successful diminished capacity defense enraged gay community police fire departments raised money defense gave anger focus turning city government especially effects san_francisco politics municipal elections occurring months riot prominent gay leaders feared backlash polls elections continued incident gay community fared better expected wielding unprecedented influence virtually unknown gay mayoral candidate finished election showing strong force mayor runoff election conservative city supervisor promises appoint gay people public office heavy campaigning ensured won support gay community term mayor mayor actions elected announce appointment new chief police murphy declared police cars longer colored powder blue instead black whites pleased rank file restored confidence police leadership murphy vowed maintain progressive policy predecessor implemented seven new police recruits gay lesbian public appearances outgoing police chief stated fully expected day san_francisco gay mayor chief police october organization gay law enforcement personnel california golden state peace officers association incorporated non profit organization founded oakland police officer present night riots thirty years announcement guilty verdict prepared decision case attempt proposition added statement marriage man woman valid recognized california article section ballot initiative approved eliminated right sex couples marry state late court preparing announcement rumors surfaced internet san_francisco mayor asked court announce decision suggested request announcement coincide 30th anniversary white night riots court upheld validity proposition ruled marriages performed remain valid effects aids movement played major role investigation riots prominent activist dropped school work legislative consultant speakers spent time organizing political campaigns working consultant aware gay men san_francisco contracting unusual diseases gay community eventually seriously affected aids epidemic jones key aids activist jones founded november anniversary milk jones learned people died aids proposed creation remembrance died jones hiv positive launched consists individual panels interview jones said thought perfect symbol warm middle class middle american traditional family values symbol attach disease killing drug users immigrants maybe maybe apply traditional family values family
White Night riots