<P> During another incident around this time , which landed Johnson in court , she was confronted by police officers for hustling in New York , and when they went to apprehend her , she hit them with her handbag , which contained two bricks . When Johnson was asked by the judge why she was hustling , Johnson explained she was trying to secure enough money for her husband 's tombstone . During a time when same - sex marriage was illegal in the United States , the judge asked her what `` happened to this alleged husband '' , Johnson responded , `` Pigs killed him '' . Initially sentenced to 90 days in prison for the assault , Johnson 's lawyer eventually convinced the judge to sent her to Bellevue instead . </P>
<P> During another incident around this time , which landed Johnson in court , she was confronted by police officers for hustling in New York , and when they went to apprehend her , she hit them with her handbag , which contained two bricks . When Johnson was asked by the judge why she was hustling , Johnson explained she was trying to secure enough money for her husband 's tombstone . During a time when same - sex marriage was illegal in the United States , the judge asked her what `` happened to this alleged husband '' , Johnson responded , `` Pigs killed him '' . Initially sentenced to 90 days in prison for the assault , Johnson 's lawyer eventually convinced the judge to sent her to Bellevue instead . </P>
who threw the first brick in the stonewall riots
who threw the first brick in the stonewall riots
Johnson
Johnson