White Night Burns: San Francisco Demands Justice
Thousands of San Franciscans rioted on May 21, 1979, after a jury convicted Dan White of voluntary manslaughter rather than first-degree murder for the November 27, 1978, assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. White's defense attorney argued that his consumption of junk food, particularly Twinkies, indicated a diminished mental state, a strategy the press dubbed the "Twinkie defense." The White Night riots saw protesters smash windows and burn police cars at City Hall, causing $1 million in damage. Police retaliated by raiding a gay bar in the Castro district, beating patrons. Harvey Milk had been the first openly gay elected official in a major American city. White served five years in prison and committed suicide in 1985.
May 21, 1979
47 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on May 21
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