161. The RAMROD, Ronald K. Crumpley And West Street Massacre

A burst of gunfire on a quiet November night. Two lives lost, more injured and an icon gay bar turned crime scene forever.On November 19, 1980, 38-year-old ex-transit cop Ronald K. Crumpley opened fire on patrons entering RAMROD, a beloved gay leather bar in Greenwich Village. What began as a night out ended in chaos. People ducked behind parked cars, others ran but two men, Vernon Kroening and Jörg Wenz, were killed, and many more wounded. In this episode of our LGBTQ+ true crime podcast we trace the horror of that massacre, the homophobia and mental illness behind it, and the ripple effect it had in a community already living in the shadows. We explore how a single act of hatred cracked open the illusion of safety for queer New Yorkers and why that reckoning still echoes today.Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light with a cold one in hand. Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history.To sign our online petition to have a memorial or plaque added to the building that once was the RAMROD please visit: https://c.org/L6QfmV4Q6N Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.