In a community board meeting Thursday evening, local politicians, activists and community organizations stood in staunch opposition to New York State’s planned redesign of Marsha P. Johnson State Park.
People close to Johnson, a prominent leader at the 1969 Stonewall uprising and renowned activist for LGBTQ people, unexpectedly dropped in during the monthly meeting of Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Parks Committee to oppose the state’s plans. They spoke up on behalf of the activist,…
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Greenpointers has covered Greenpoint & Williamsburg since 2007 — community boards, rezoning fights, local businesses, and the people whose lives and work give the neighborhood its character. Local news is collapsing across the country, but we're still here: independently owned, no corporate backing, no paywall. 18+ years, 280k+ monthly readers and followers, funded by the community we serve.
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I imagine it must be difficult for straight people to imagine how monument to a pioneer of civil rights for the LGBT community should look. I and many others actually loved the original design, finding the colors uplifting and reflective of MPJ’s personality. Calling it a plastic park is a great soundbite, but it is not how we viewed it at all. In the end, it will be as vanilla as any other park, and we think that is a lost opportunity.