The Candlelight March and AIDS Vigil leaves from the Stonewall, the bar where 25 years earlier the

Stonewall Riots started. These riots were the first protest of gay and lesbian people. On 28 June 1969

New York police had one of its regular raids the Stonewall bar. This time, however, gays and lesbians

fought back. This event is considered the start of a struggle for equal rights for gay and

lesbian people which is continuing today.