New York returns rainbow flag to Stonewall memorial

On Thursday, New York officials once again raised a large Pride rainbow flag over the Stonewall National Monument, which had been removed by the Trump administration earlier in the week. Hundreds of people gathered in lower Manhattan to support the flag's return to its place.

The ceremony was led by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and attended by elected officials from the city, state, and federal governments. After raising the flag, Hoylman-Sigal noted that the community should rejoice and called the flag a symbol of dignity and human rights.

A spokesperson for the US Department of the Interior did not respond to questions about whether the flag would be removed again.

Stonewall is located in Christopher Park and commemorates the events of 1969, when gay, lesbian, and transgender residents of New York City protested against police intervention at the Stonewall Inn. The uprising is considered a turning point in the LGBT rights movement.

The National Park Service removed the flag in accordance with its long-standing policy applied to all its sites. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior described its return as a political move and criticized city officials.

(reuters, max)