This Day in History - Zinn Education Project

Oct. 2, 1968: Tlatelolco Massacre

Student demonstrators and other civilians were killed by the military and police in Mexico in advance of the 1968 Olympic Games.

Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Organizing, World History/Global Studies

Oct. 2, 1937: Parsley Massacre

Under the orders of U.S.-backed Dominican dictator President Rafael Trujillo, the execution of more than 20,000 Haitians began in what is now known as the Parsley Massacre at Massacre River.

Themes: Latinx, Racism & Racial Identity, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies

Oct. 1, 1964: Free Speech Movement

The Free Speech Movement was launched at UC-Berkeley.

Themes: Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

Oct. 1, 1851: The Jerry Rescue

Abolitionists freed a man captured under Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in Syracuse, New York.

Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Slavery and Resistance

Robert Hill Elaine Massacre | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 30, 1919: Elaine Massacre

Black farmers were massacred in Elaine, Arkansas for their efforts to fight for better pay and higher cotton prices. A white mob shot at them, and the farmers returned fire in self-defense. Estimates range from 100-800 killed, and 67 survivors were indicted for inciting violence.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Labor

Conscientus Objectors 1943 | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 29, 1943: Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary Hunger Strike

Conscientious objectors began a hunger strike at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Sept. 28, 1919: The Omaha Courthouse Lynching and Riot

A white mob of between 5,000 to 15,000 lynched African American Will Brown. The Army arrested mob ringleaders. Even though photographs identified them, all of the suspects were eventually released.

Themes: African American, Racism & Racial Identity

Palo Duro Amarillo | Zinn Education Project

Sept 28, 1874: Battle of Palo Duro Canyon

Encampments of Comanches, Kiowas, Kiowa Apaches, Cheyennes, and Arapahos were attacked by the U.S. military.

Themes: Reconstruction, Imperialism, Native American

Opelousas Massacre | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 28, 1868: Opelousas Massacre

In response to the promotion of voter registration, a KKK like group massacred hundreds of people, most who were African American.

Themes: African American, Reconstruction, Democracy & Citizenship

An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 28, 1829: An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World

David Walker published one of the most important documents of the 19th century.

Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery and Resistance

Sept. 27, 1962: Silent Spring Published

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was published.

Themes: Climate Justice, Environment, Women's History

Sept. 26, 1909: International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union Strike

Local 25 of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) declared a strike.

Themes: Labor, Women's History

Sept. 25, 1961: Murder of Herbert Lee

Herbert Lee, a farmer who helped voting rights activists, was murdered by a state legislator in broad daylight.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

The Milwaukee 14 Bob Graf |Zinn Education Project

Sept. 24, 1968: Milwaukee 14 Burn Draft Files

Fourteen people removed 10,000 draft cards from the Milwaukee draft board.

Themes: Wars & Related Anti-War Movements

Sept. 23, 1926: John Coltrane Born

John Coltrane was born. Also born #tdih: Mary Church Terrell (1863), Ray Charles (1930), and Bruce Springsteen (1949).

Themes: African American, Art & Music

Preliminary Proclamation Page 1 | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 22, 1862: Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation

Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Themes: African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights, Slavery and Resistance

Sept. 21, 1976: Sheridan Circle Car Bomb

Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt were killed in Washington, D.C. by a U.S.-backed Augusto Pinochet regime car bomb.

Themes: Imperialism, Latinx, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies

Sept. 20, 1962: James Meredith Attempts to Register at University of Mississippi

James Meredith attempted to register at the University of Mississippi.

Themes: African American, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Laws & Citizen Rights

In Memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria | Zinn Education Project

Sept. 20, 2017: Hurricane Maria Strikes Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico as a major Category 4 storm.

Themes: Climate Justice, Environment, Democracy & Citizenship, Economics, Latinx

Sept. 20, 1830: The First Meeting of the Colored Conventions Movement

Forty African Americans, elected by communities in nine states, met in Philadelphia in 1830 to organize for improving the lives of Black people in North America. That week, they founded the National Colored Conventions movement and held its first official series of formal meetings.

Themes: African American, Organizing

Explore This Day in History