NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's police commissioner apologised on Thursday for the raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar 50 years ago that gave rise to the modern LGBT rights movement, describing the incident as "harassment" that was "wrong, plain and simple."Patrons of the bar fought back against the raid on June 28, 1969, leading to unprecedented demonstrations for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the streets of Greenwich Village outside the Stonewall.
"What happened should not have happened. The actions taken by the NYPD were wrong, plain and simple," Commissioner James O'Neill said. "The actions and the laws were discriminatory and oppressive, and for that, I apologise."
Gay pride is now celebrated around the world in June, with parades usually set on or around the June 28 anniversary.
Organizers expect some 4 million people to visit New York later this month for World Pride, an international gay pride celebration that will be held in New York this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
New York's annual gay pride parade, which will be bolstered by World Pride visitors, will be held on June 30.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill Berkrot)