Stonewall Citizens' Patrol

In 2006, a group of concerned citizens, led by Bob Lehman, Tom Felkner, Ben Chapman-Gomez, and Nicole Murray Ramirez, decided to organize a proactive response to assaults on several gay men that occurred outside the San Diego Pride Festival grounds. That response was the formation of Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol.

The name “Stonewall” was taken in honor of those who, in 1969, stood up against violence and brutality saying, “We’ve had enough!” and embarked on a series of spontaneous demonstrations that are widely considered the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. Today, Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol is an all-volunteer neighborhood watch patrol operating in the Banker Hills, Hillcrest, University Heights, and North Park neighborhoods of San Diego. All Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol volunteers receive specialized training from the San Diego Police Department, veteran Field Training Leaders, and work a rotating schedule, patrolling the streets and alleys of these highly diverse areas during peak hours when criminal activity is most concerning.

From 2006-2010, Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol operated under the umbrella of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) and then became its own all-volunteer 510(c)(3) non-profit organization.