Stonewall Uprisings is a PBS produced documentary that educates the viewer on the historical and political moments that led up to the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. The film uses interviews from gay/lesbian activists and police officers involved in the riot to discuss how it came to be and its impact on the larger LGBTQ+ rights movement. Overall, it provides examples of the very real tensions between violent and nonviolent tactics.
There is a brief consideration on the language of Stonewall – was it a riot? was it an uprising? But the question is left unanswered. The documentary frames the Stonewall Uprising as a spontaneous event that resulted from tensions boiling over from how queer people were being continually victimized by the police. With that frame in mind, most of the LGBTQ+ organizing groups that existed during this time were left out, so it appears all the tactics used were a result of on-the-ground spontaneity and not serious organizing. Also, this film leaves out the roles of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who are often credited with starting Stonewall.
Through exploring a brief history of what occurred before Stonewall, the films portrays several nonviolent tactics. For example, early movement activists would picket in the street while wearing business professional clothes to demonstrate their “sameness.” Another example is during the Stonewall nights, there was a nonviolent Drag Queen Rockette Line. While it was acknowledged that this tactic confused the police, the activists were still met with brutality. The tactics, whether they were violent or nonviolent, were met with police brutality however it was the nonviolent tactics of picketing that were first critiqued for folding into the respectability narrative. The tactic that saw the most success, at least in measuring its lasting impact, was the decision to march down New York – resulting in the creation of the first Pride parade.
Ultimately, if the goal of the course is to show a movie that debates and uses nonviolent tactics, then Stonewall Uprisings is not appropriate. However, if the goal of the course is to encourage conversations on the uses and debates of violence as a tactic, then Stonewall Uprisings offers an unashamed look at using property destruction to challenge police brutality.
