Hi everybody. The story of America is a story of progress. It”s written by ordinary people who put their shoulders to the wheel of history to make sure that the promise of our founding applies not just to some of us - but to all of us.
Farmers and blacksmiths who chose revolution over tyranny. Immigrants who crossed oceans and the Rio Grande. Women who reached for the ballot1, and scientists who shot for the moon. The preachers, and porters, and seamstresses who guided us toward the mountaintop of freedom.
Sometimes, we can mark that progress in special places - hallowed ground where history was written - places like Independence Hall. Gettysburg. Seneca Falls. Kitty Hawk2 and Cape3 Canaveral.
One of these special places is the Stonewall Inn. Back in 1969, as a turbulent decade was winding4 down, the Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering5 place for New York City's LGBT community. At the time, being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender was considered obscene, illegal - even a mental illness.
One night, police raided the bar, and started arresting folks. Raids like these were nothing new - but this tim
