Analysis White Night riots

1 analysis

1.1 causes
1.2 effects on san francisco politics
1.3 effects on aids movement

analysis
causes

san francisco s castro district became stronghold emerging gay community.

the community had long history of conflict san francisco police department. following world war ii, gay bars subject frequent raids , attempts california department of alcoholic beverage control revoke alcohol licenses. accused of serving alcohol homosexuals, criminal act @ time.

the growing political , economic power of city s gay community conflicted established dwindling numbers of conservative institutions, such police , fire departments. 1971, police arresting average of 2,800 men per year on public sex charges; contrast, 63 such arrests made in new york city, although quarter of san francisco reported gay @ time. many charges dismissed due entrapment, several men given harsh sentences. in march, 1979, attack on lesbian bar off-duty police officers made national news , highlighted tension between lgbt community , police. washington post cited incident when reported week before white night riots anti-homosexual violence had increased level unparalleled in san francisco s recent history , including gay community perceived increasing harassment , abuse directed toward homosexuals police themselves, indifference city officials.

when dan white found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, successful diminished capacity defense enraged gay community. police , fire departments had raised money defense gave anger focus, turning against city government , sfpd.

effects on san francisco politics

with 1979 municipal elections occurring months after riot, prominent gay leaders feared backlash @ polls. elections continued without incident, , gay community fared better expected, wielding unprecedented influence. although virtually unknown gay mayoral candidate david scott finished third in election, showing strong enough force mayor feinstein runoff election against conservative city supervisor quentin kopp. feinstein s promises appoint more gay people public office, , heavy campaigning in castro, ensured won enough support gay community give full term mayor.

one of mayor feinstein s first actions upon being elected announce appointment of cornelius murphy new chief of police. murphy declared police cars no longer colored powder blue, instead repainted macho black-and-whites. pleased rank , file, , restored confidence in police leadership. murphy vowed maintain progressive policy towards gays predecessor had implemented. 1980, 1 in 7 new police recruits either gay or lesbian. in 1 of last public appearances, outgoing police chief charles gain stated expected see day when san francisco have both gay mayor , chief of police. october 1985, organization gay law enforcement personnel in california, golden state peace officers association, had incorporated non-profit organization. founded art roth, oakland police officer present on night of riots.

protesters @ day of decision rally marched market street in downtown san francisco following california supreme court ruling.

thirty years after announcement of dan white s guilty verdict, supreme court of california prepared decision on strauss v. horton. case attempt overturn proposition 8, had added statement marriage between man , woman valid or recognized in california article i, section 7.5 of california state constitution. ballot initiative, approved in 2008, eliminated right of same-sex couples marry in state.

in late may 2009, while court preparing announcement, rumors surfaced on internet san francisco mayor gavin newsom had asked court not announce decision on may 21. suggested made request announcement not coincide 30th anniversary of white night riots. on may 26, court upheld validity of proposition 8, ruled 18,000 marriages had been performed remain valid.

effects on aids movement

the names project aids quilt, representing people have died of aids, in front of washington monument

cleve jones played major role in investigation of riots, , had since become prominent activist. dropped out of school work legislative consultant california state assembly speakers leo mccarthy , willie brown. spent time organizing political campaigns. in 1981, while working consultant california state assembly health committee, became aware of gay men in san francisco contracting unusual diseases, such kaposi s sarcoma. gay community affected aids epidemic, , jones became key aids activist. jones co-founded kaposi s sarcoma research & education foundation, in 1982 became san francisco aids foundation. on november 27, 1985, @ candlelight vigil on anniversary of moscone-milk assassinations, jones learned 1,000 people had died of aids. proposed creation of quilt, in remembrance of had died. in 1987, jones, hiv-positive himself, launched names project aids memorial quilt. of 2009, quilt consists of on 44,000 individual panels. in 2004 interview, jones said thought, perfect symbol; warm, comforting, middle-class, middle-american, traditional-family-values symbol attach disease s killing homosexuals , iv drug users , haitian immigrants, , maybe, maybe, apply traditional family values family.