“History is instructive. What it suggests to people is that even if they do little things, if they walk on the picket line, if they join a vigil, if they write a letter to their local newspaper… Anything they do, however small, becomes part of a much larger sort of flow of energy. And when enough people do enough things, however small they are, then change takes place.”
Howard Zinn, American historian
1. The first Indianapolis 500 was held
On this day in history in 1911 The first Indianapolis 500 was held. Ray Harroun won the first running of the 500-mile automobile race, which is today one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
2. The Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, was assassinated
On this day in history in 1961 The Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo, was assassinated. El Jefe had been the Dominican Republic’s President for 31 years. Despite the assassination, the intended removal of the dictatorship in the Caribbean country failed as the ruler’s son, Ramfis Trujillo, soon stepped into his father’s shoes.
3. Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem was premiered
On this day in history in 1962 Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem was premiered. The work was performed for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, which had been destroyed in World War II. It juxtaposes the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead with war poems by Wilfred Owen.
4. The Republic of Biafra was proclaimed
On this day in history in 1967 The Republic of Biafra was proclaimed.
The short-lived state consisted of Nigeria’s Eastern Region. Its secession sparked the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted until 1970 and resulted in the region’s re-integration into Nigeria.
5. Germany abandoned nuclear energy
On this day in history in 2011 Germany abandoned nuclear energy. The government’s decision followed the nuclear meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima power plant and years of hands-on protests and activism by Germany powerful anti-nuclear movement.
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