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Today in History: October 15

Tarana Burke, a founder and leader of the #MeToo movement, and Actress Alyssa Milano (AP Photo-Carolyn Kaster)
Tarana Burke, a founder and leader of the #MeToo movement, and Actress Alyssa Milano (AP Photo-Carolyn Kaster)

On October 15, 2017, actress and activist Alyssa Milano sent out a pivotal tweet urging women who had experienced sexual harassment or assault to post “Me too” as their status. This simple yet powerful call to action rapidly went viral, with tens of thousands adopting the #MeToo hashtag within hours. However, the movement was originally initiated over a decade earlier by social activist Tarana Burke, aiming to give a voice to survivors of sexual violence. The #MeToo movement not only exposed widespread harassment but also initiated significant shifts in workplace policies, legal reforms, and societal attitudes toward gender-based violence.

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In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte, having been defeated and deposed as Emperor of France, arrived on the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. He would spend the final 5 ½ years of his life in exile here, a stark contrast to the grand ambitions he once held as a military genius and ruler of much of Europe. Napoleon’s confinement on St. Helena marked the end of an era for European history, sealing the fate of one of the most influential figures of modern times and paving the way for the post-Napoleonic balance of power across the continent.

In 1945, Pierre Laval, the former premier of Vichy France, was executed for treason. Laval had been a key figure in the Vichy government, which collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II, a betrayal that deeply scarred France’s national identity. His trial and execution highlighted the reckoning France faced as it sought to rebuild and purge itself of collaborationists after the war.

Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering listens to parts of the verdict given in the courtroom (AP Photo)
Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering listens to parts of the verdict given in the courtroom (AP Photo)

In 1946, Hermann Göring, one of the most prominent Nazi leaders, avoided the gallows by fatally poisoning himself just hours before his scheduled execution. Göring had been convicted during the Nuremberg Trials, the landmark judicial process that held Nazi war criminals accountable for the atrocities of World War II and the Holocaust. His suicide underscored the complexity of bringing justice to those responsible for one of history’s darkest periods.

High tides whipped in by Hurricane Hazel shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, N.C.(AP Photo - File)
High tides whipped in by Hurricane Hazel shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, N.C.(AP Photo – File)

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall on the Carolina coast, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The storm claimed approximately 1,000 lives in the Caribbean, 95 in the United States, and 81 in Canada. Hazel remains one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in North American history, shaping disaster preparedness efforts in the decades that followed.

In 1976, the first-ever televised debate between vice-presidential nominees took place, featuring Democrat Walter F. Mondale and Republican Bob Dole. This debate set a precedent for vice-presidential candidates to participate in nationally televised debates, helping shape public perception of running mates and their potential leadership qualities.

High tides whipped in by Hurricane Hazel shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, N.C.(AP Photo - File)
High tides whipped in by Hurricane Hazel shatter boats and buildings in Swansboro, N.C.(AP Photo – File)

In 1989, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, playing for the Los Angeles Kings, broke Gordie Howe’s all-time NHL scoring record in a game against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky’s achievement cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes in the history of professional sports, revolutionizing the game of hockey with his remarkable skill, vision, and finesse.

In 1991, despite allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill, the U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court by a 52-48 vote. The controversy surrounding Thomas’ confirmation hearing exposed deep divisions over issues of race, gender, and power in America, and it had lasting effects on the national discourse around workplace harassment and the treatment of women.

In 1997, British Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green made history by driving a jet-powered car in the Nevada desert faster than the speed of sound, officially breaking the world’s land-speed record. This extraordinary achievement, reaching a supersonic speed of 763 mph, pushed the boundaries of engineering and human endurance, a milestone in the pursuit of speed and innovation.

In 2003, tragedy struck when a Staten Island ferry crashed into a maintenance pier, killing eleven people. The ferry’s pilot had blacked out at the controls due to health issues, leading to the deadly accident. This incident led to stricter safety regulations and oversight for public transportation systems, as well as heightened accountability for operators.


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Eugene B Ely takes off from the USS Birmingham

Today in History: November 14

Today in History: November 14. On November 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in just over 72 days. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel ‘Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale’ was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Afghan opposition fighters rolled into Kabul on Tuesday after Taliban troops slipped away under cover of darkness, leaving without a fight (AP Photo-Marco Di Lauro)

Today in History: November 13

Today in History: November 13:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II. In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal. In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city. In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.

Arne Petterson, the last alien to leave Ellis Island before its closing, waves from the ferry boat Ellis Island (AP Photo)

Today in History: November 12

Today in History: On November 12: 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party. In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal. In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.

American troops cheer after hearing the news that the Armistice had been signed, ending World War I (AP Photo)

Today in History: November 11

Today in History: November 11: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France. In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, calling for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.” In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding. In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.

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The Million Man March gather on Capitol Hill and the Mall in Washington (AP Photo-Mark Wilson)
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