1990 – Nelson Mandela Released
Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. He was the person who had lead the movement to end South African apartheid back in the mid-1940s. Mandela was a lawyer who had joined the African National Congress (ANC), which was the oldest black political organization in South Africa. For this organization, he had served as the leader of the Johannesburg youth ANC chapter, and then later he became ANC deputy national president. During his time as the president of ANC he advocated non-violence and resisted apartheid (South Africa’s system of white supremacy and segregation of races). He had changed his tune in 1960, however, when he lead a revolt against the white minority government-after the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators had taken place.
2012 – Superstar Singer Whitney Houston Dies
Mega-star and singer Whitney Houston died at the age of 48 in a Los Angeles hotel the night before the Grammy Awards. Plagued by substance abuse in her later life, Houston had become one of the most popular and celebrated singers in her early career.
2014 – Death Penalty Suspended in Washington State
Democratic Governor Jay Inslee of the state of Washington has suspended the death penalty. Inslee stated the reason for his decision was that he believed that the death penalty had been used unfairly and in an inconsistent manner and that he would grant reprieve to any cases that called for it.
1952 – Austria Avalanches
A series of deadly avalanches begin in Europe following a 10-day snowstorm. The worst affected was Austria where an avalanche crashed down on the ski resort in Melkoede. Twenty people, almost all German tourists, were killed at the resort and another 10 were seriously injured.
The Pentagon has announced that the US Military would extend some of the same family benefits heterosexual couples get to same-sex couples.
Content sourced from The People History
