Pride Flag Reinstated at Stonewall National Monument
New York City officials have reinstated a Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument, days after the Trump administration oversaw its removal.
A crowd gathered near the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan's Greenwich Village to observe the flag's return to the site. The Stonewall Inn is recognized as the location where the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement began in 1969, following a police raid that initiated an uprising.
The flag had been removed over the weekend, consistent with a recent memo from the interior department.
This memo stated that generally, only US flags, agency flags, and the POW/MIA flag are permitted at parks, with some exceptions for flags that "provide historical context." The agency confirmed that this policy has been in place for decades and recent guidance clarifies its consistent application across National Park Service (NPS)-managed sites.
Criticism and Response
The initial removal prompted criticism in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani referred to it as an "act of erasure." Julie Menin, the speaker of New York's city council, along with council members Chi Ossé and Justin Sanchez, sent a letter to the National Park Service expressing concerns about the decision.
On Thursday, the city council passed a resolution urging Congress to acknowledge the history and significance of Stonewall and other national sites.
Hours later, New York officials re-hung a Pride flag at Stonewall, positioned alongside the American flag.
Officials Celebrate the Return
Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the Manhattan borough president, stated on social media, "The flag is up... The community should rejoice. We have prevailed. Our flag represents dignity and human rights."
US Congressman Jerry Nadler participated in re-hanging the flag. Nadler stated, "We won't let Trump erase LGBTQ+ history. Stonewall was a rebellion. Stonewall was a beginning. Today, Stonewall is a call to action once again... I'm proud to be at Stonewall today as we re-raise the Pride flag. It's flying once again."
Context and Reaction
This incident followed previous actions by the Trump administration, including the removal of panels discussing enslavement from the President's House in Philadelphia by NPS workers, in response to a presidential executive order.
In response to inquiries, the interior department released a statement from an unnamed spokesperson criticizing New York officials' actions on Thursday as a "political stunt" and a "distraction."