Sept. 11, 2001: Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez: “Not In Our Son’s Name”
Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez spoke out against using September 11, 2001 as a pretext for war.
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Period: 2001–Present
2001 – Present
May 4, 2016: Indigenous People March to Demand Revocation of the Doctrine of Discovery
A delegation representing Native nations marched upon the Vatican and were successful in convincing the Vatican to revoke the Doctrine of Discovery.
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Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI
Book — Non-fiction. By Karen Hao. 2025. 496 pages.
By drawing on the viewpoints of Silicon Valley engineers, Kenyan data laborers, and Chilean water activists, Hao presents the fullest picture of AI and its impact we’ve seen to date, alongside a trenchant analysis of where things are headed.
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By drawing on the viewpoints of Silicon Valley engineers, Kenyan data laborers, and Chilean water activists, Hao presents the fullest picture of AI and its impact we’ve seen to date, alongside a trenchant analysis of where things are headed.
Aug. 26, 2016: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick Kneels in Protest
Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, draws attention to his quiet protest against police brutality during an NFL pre-season game.
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June 12, 2016: Pulse Nightclub Massacre
During a “Latin Night” at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, a gunman shot and killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at the time.
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Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties
Film. By Nonny de la Peña. 2004. 69 minutes.
A documentary that investigates the ways in which the civil liberties of U.S. citizens and immigrants have been rolled back since 9/11/2001 and the passage of the Patriot Act.
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A documentary that investigates the ways in which the civil liberties of U.S. citizens and immigrants have been rolled back since 9/11/2001 and the passage of the Patriot Act.
Nov. 6, 2023: Statue of Liberty Sit-in Demanding Gaza Ceasefire
Hundreds of protesters occupied the base of the Statue of Liberty as part of a sit-in demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Sept. 17, 2020: 1776 Commission Established
On Constitution Day in 2020, the White House convened a Conference on American History. The speakers took aim at the Zinn Education Project, Howard Zinn, and the New York Times 1619 Project.
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A People’s History of the United States: 1492 – Present
Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 2005, with a new introduction by Anthony Arnove in 2015. 784 pages.
Howard Zinn's groundbreaking work on U.S. history. This book details lives and facts rarely included in textbooks—an indispensable teacher and student resource.
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Howard Zinn's groundbreaking work on U.S. history. This book details lives and facts rarely included in textbooks—an indispensable teacher and student resource.
Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World
Teaching Guide. Edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson. 2002. 402 pages.
An extensive collection of readings and source material on critical global issues, plus teaching ideas, lesson plans, and rich collections of resources for classroom teachers.
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An extensive collection of readings and source material on critical global issues, plus teaching ideas, lesson plans, and rich collections of resources for classroom teachers.
‘Don’t Take Our Voices Away’: A Role Play on the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change
Teaching Activity. By Julie Treick O’Neill and Tim Swinehart. Rethinking Schools. 16 pages.
A role play on the Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change asks students to develop a list of demands to present to the rest of the world at a climate change meeting.
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A role play on the Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change asks students to develop a list of demands to present to the rest of the world at a climate change meeting.
Standing with Standing Rock: A Role Play on the Dakota Access Pipeline
Teaching Activity. By Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, Bill Bigelow, and Andrew Duden. Article by Ursula Wolfe-Rocca. Rethinking Schools. 15 pages.
A role play helps students recognize the issues at stake in the historic struggle of the Standing Rock Sioux to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
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A role play helps students recognize the issues at stake in the historic struggle of the Standing Rock Sioux to block construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Jan. 12, 2010: Earthquake in Haiti
Haiti was hit with a devastating earthquake that took the lives of thousands and displaced even more.
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Feb. 26, 2012: Trayvon Martin Murdered
Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager, was murdered. The death of Martin and acquittal of the man who shot him sparked the national and global Movement for Black Lives.
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Feb. 13, 2013: Keystone Pipeline Protesters Circle White House
Activists circled the White House to protest the Keystone Pipeline, an oil system that transports crude oil from Canada to various locations in the United States.
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Dec. 19, 2008: Tim DeChristopher Protests Bureau of Land Management
Tim DeChristopher of Peaceful Uprising protested a Bureau of Land Management auction of public land in Utah’s redrock country.
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June 27, 2015: Bree Newsome Removes Confederate Flag
While politicians debated the implications of taking down the Confederate flag after the white supremacist murder of nine African Americans at Emmanuel AME Church, Bree Newsome scaled the South Carolina state flag pole and took the flag down.
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“Riots,” Racism, and the Police: Students Explore a Century of Police Conduct and Racial Violence
Teaching Activity. By Ursula Wolfe-Rocca.
Students explore three documents produced in the wake of three major episodes of racial violence (1919, 1967, 2014) to understand the long trajectory of police violence in Black communities.
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Students explore three documents produced in the wake of three major episodes of racial violence (1919, 1967, 2014) to understand the long trajectory of police violence in Black communities.
Jan. 13, 2014: CeCe McDonald Released from Prison
CeCe McDonald, a Black trans woman, was imprisoned following an act of white supremacist and transphobic violence in which McDonald defended herself and, in the process, her assailant was killed.
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Dec. 21, 2000: Animal Testing Lab Dropped from NYSE Following Grassroots Campaign
Stop Huntington Life Sciences (SHAC) was a global movement with organizers campaigning across five continents to bring an end to the animal use and experimentation at Huntington Life Sciences.
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Jan. 21, 2010: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Ruling
The Supreme Court determined that the government could not infringe upon the First Amendment rights of corporations to spend unlimited funds on electoral campaigns.
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“Starcups Workers Unite!” — Students Learn Their Workplace Rights
Teaching Activity. By Nicolle Fefferman. 2025. Rethinking Schools.
The director of the Young Workers Education Project and a Prentiss Charney Fellow describes a high school simulation based on recent Starbucks workers’ organizing.
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The director of the Young Workers Education Project and a Prentiss Charney Fellow describes a high school simulation based on recent Starbucks workers’ organizing.
June 28, 2018: End the Contract with ICE Campaign Begins in Grand Rapids
Roughly 250 people showed up to the Kent County Commission meeting to demand that they end the contract between ICE and the Kent County Sheriff’s Department.
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Whose “Terrorism”?
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 11 pages.
In this lesson, the act of reframing real-world events with fictional countries and individuals allows students to authentically discuss what qualifies as terrorism, what doesn’t, and what responses may or may not be appropriate, without bringing real-world stereotypes and preconceptions into play.
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In this lesson, the act of reframing real-world events with fictional countries and individuals allows students to authentically discuss what qualifies as terrorism, what doesn’t, and what responses may or may not be appropriate, without bringing real-world stereotypes and preconceptions into play.
Camouflaged: Investigating How the U.S. Military Affects You and Your Community
Teaching Guide. Edited by Edwin Mayorga, Bree Picower, and Seth Rader. 2008. 188 pages.
Tool for educators to help adolescents explore the role of the military in their lives and in their communities.
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Tool for educators to help adolescents explore the role of the military in their lives and in their communities.