Important Events From This day in History March 31st

 

 

1951 U.S.A. UNIVAC

1951 : The first commercially built U.S. computer The UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) is sold to the United States Census Bureau costing about US$159,000. This computer was built by Remington Rand and had been designed principally by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, the inventors of the ENIAC (1947 - the first general-purpose electronic computer) known as the "Giant Brain." These computers did not use transistors or micro chips but vacuum tubes (similar to what you find in old TV's from the fifties) and were the size of a small house (680 sq ft.)

1959 India Dalai Lama

1959 : The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has crossed the border into India after a 15 day journey on foot from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, over the Himalayan mountains seeking asylum. This follows the Chinese repression of the rebellion by Tibetans in Lhasa. The Dalai Lama, is granted political asylum in India.

1990 England Poll Tax Demonstrations

1990 : The worst violence seen so far in the series of Anti Poll Tax demonstrations erupted in London during the largest rally when nearly 100,000 people take to the streets in protest at the new government levy. More than 400 were arrested and property was damaged with repairs estimated at £400,000 after the demonstration.

The Poll Tax (Community Charge) was introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales) and was a single flat rate per person tax on every working adult, at a rate set by the local authority. It was designed to replace the rating system of taxes, which was based on valuation and rent value, to fund local government. The tax was believed by many to move the tax burden from the rich to the poor, under earlier local taxes (Rateable Value "Rates") those who owned the largest and most expensive property paid the most but under "Poll Tax" the tax was moved to the number of people living in the house.

The Poll Tax was formally abolished in 1993 /1994 with the new The Council Tax which resembled the old rating system that the Poll Tax had replaced.

1889 France The Eiffel Tower

1889 : The Eiffel Tower, or the Tour Eiffel, was opened on March 31st, 1889, and was the work of a Gustave Eiffel, who was a bridge engineer. It was made for the centenary of the French Revolution and was chosen instead of over one hundred other plans that were given.

1940 Winston Churchill Warns Against German Invasion

1940 : The first sea lord of the admiralty Winston Churchill has warned that a million German troops are massed on the borders of Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland ready to strike and that England and it's allies must be prepared to protect other countries in the forthcoming conflict.

1943 U.S.A. Oklahoma!

1943 : The musical "Oklahoma!" debuts on Broadway. This play, written by the famed duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, was originally titled "Away We Go" and continues to be produced by theaters across the country.

1964 Brazilian coup d'état

1964 : A military coup d'état in Brazil led by Gen. Humberto Castello Branco ousted Pres. Joao Goulart.

1966 England Harold Wilson

1966 : Harold Wilson wins sweeping victory as the Labour party wins the general election with a majority of about 100 seats in the House of Commons.

1968 US Johnson Announces He Will Not Run

1968 : President Johnson announces on nationwide television he would not run for another term of office saying "I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party as your President."

1972 England CND March

1972 : The CND ( Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament ) organizes a four day demonstration against nuclear arms including a march to Aldermaston.

1973 U.S.A. Mississippi Floods

1973 : The Mississippi River reaches its peak level in St. Louis during a record 77-day flood. During the flooding 33 died and and millions of acres of farm land were unusable for a full year following the flood, also because the area's affected were in a known flood plain many residents had no insurance and lost everything they had worked for, this is also why the 33 died as they refused to evacuate the area.

1995 U.S.A. Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

1995 : Grammy award winning Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was shot and murdered in a motel room by the woman who was the president of her fan club.

1995 Major League Baseball Strike

1995 : Baseball players agreed to end a 232-day strike which had begun on August 12, 1994, after a judge granted a preliminary injunction against club owners. The strike led to the cancellation of 938 games overall, including the entire 1994 postseason and 1994 World Series. Like nearly all strikes the Baseball player strike revolved around money with club owners demanding a salary cap in response to the worsening financial situation in baseball. Find Out More on our History of Baseball Page

2004 Iraq Four US Contractors Ambushed and Murdered

2004 : Four Blackwater Security Consulting (BSC) employees are ambushed and murdered in Fallujah, Iraq. The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Photos of the horrendous crimes were released to news agencies worldwide, causing indignation and outrage in the United States and other countries.

2005 U.S.A. Terri Schiavo

2005 : Terri Schiavo, the center of the most heavily litigated right-to-die dispute in U.S. history, died today, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed.

2005 UK Children Conceived Using Donor Eggs or Sperm Can Trace Parents

2005 : New laws in the UK now give the right to those born using donor eggs or sperm will have the option to ask for the identity of their donor will be when they turn 18. The new law is not retrospective, so people who have already donated will not be affected, but those donating from now and the children born through those donations will have the right to trace their biological parent in through the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority the same way as children who are adopted can ask adoption agencies. The new laws are causing some concern by infertility clinics about the future because the number of donors is expected to drop significantly.

Today in Labor History March 31, 2026

 

Cesar Chavez

U.S. President Martin Van Buren issued an Executive Order, “finding that different rules prevail at different places as well in respect to the hours of labor by persons employed on the public works under the immediate authority of himself and the Departments as also in relation to the different classes of workmen…hereby directs that all such persons, whether laborers or mechanics, be required to work only the number of hours prescribed by the ten-hour system.” – 1840

The new closed-range cattle ranching industry that became dominant after the Civil War denied cowboys the right to be paid in cattle, start their own herds, or have access to open land.  Ranchers insisted that cowboys work exclusively for wages (which averaged only $40/month), and the cowboys responded by going on strike. – 1883

Cesar Chavez was born on this day in Yuma, Arizona.- 1927

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps to help alleviate suffering during the Depression. By the time the program ended after the start of World War II, it had provided jobs for more than six million men and boys. The average enrollee gained 11 pounds in his first three months. – 1933

Wisconsin state troopers failed to get scabs across the picket line to break a 76-day Allis-Chalmers strike in Milwaukee led by UAW Local 248. The plant remained closed until the government negotiated a compromise. – 1941

Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, later to become a Supreme Court justice, issued an injunction against baseball team owners to end a 232-day work stoppage. – 1995

Today Cesar Chavez Day was celebrated as an official state holiday in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas and unofficially throughout the United States. The day honors the life and work of farmworkers’ advocate, union activist, and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez. – 2013

Saturday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

 No clowns day in San Dimas, California

Religious Radio Across America - Pew Research

Tindle Newspapers sold to Iliffe joint venture - Press Gazette

10 must-read newsletters about AI for journalists - Journalism UK

Award-Winning Work and What It Demonstrates About Journalism - Second Rough Draft

The power of the pivot: How embracing flexibility can create unexpected opportunities - E&P 

Important Events From This day in History March 28

 

 

1979 Three Mile Island Nuclear Radiation

1979 : Radiation is released at Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station when a cooling plant malfunction releases radioactive steam and radiation near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, The authorities declare a general emergency but did not inform the public until five hours after the gas escaped.

A study in 2002 found that incidences of cancer in the area were not significantly higher than elsewhere.

This is still considered the worst nuclear incident in US history, but it should be remembered no deaths were attributed to the disaster.

1942 Malta George Cross Medal for Bravery

1942 : King George VI has awarded the people from the small Mediterranean island of Malta the George Cross Medal for Bravery saying "To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta, to bear witness to a heroism and a devotion that will long be famous in history." The Island had been under constant attack by Italian and German bombers and Messerschmitts machine guns since June 1940 because of it's strategic location for both the North Africa campaign and the European Campaign, Food supplies and health and hygiene became a serious problem as the ships that would normally supply the Island were sunk by the enemy before they bring in new supplies.

1964 Radio Caroline begins transmission of pop music

1964 : Radio Caroline was a pirate radio station based on a former Danish passenger ferry used to broadcast from international waters ( 1 of 2 ships converted to radio ships ) as a teen aged 14 I can remember it well and my transistor radio was nearly always tuned into Radio Caroline because the dj's were much more edgy than the other radio DJ's of the time ( I was lucky and lived on the south coast of the UK where the signal could be picked up ) . Irish musician manager and businessman Ronan O'Rahilly set up the station after he could not get any airplay on Radio Luxembourg for Georgie Fame's records because the station was committed to sponsored programmes promoting major record labels: EMI, Decca, Pye and Philips.

2006 France Contrat Première Embauche

2006 : More than 1 million mostly students take to the streets in France disrupting air, rail and bus travel in the largest nationwide protest over the "Contrat première embauche" (CPE - First Employment Contract or Beginning Workers Contract) which would make it much easier for workers under twenty-six years old to be fired. The main parts of the bill which caused protests included:

Allowed employers the opportunity to terminate employment of workers under twenty-six without any reason, with little or no notice, within their first two years of employment

Night lab our being permitted for youths as young as 15 years old

Suspension of family welfare in cases of students skipping school

Possibility of manual lab our apprenticeship for 14-year-olds

The bill was seen by many as a direct attack on younger workers but the government believed by easing these laws it would encourage companies to take on more younger employees. The new "Contrat première embauche" CPE was scrapped by Chirac on April 10 under the pressure of ongoing protest and blockade throughout France

2000 Zimbabwe White Farmer Shot And Killed

2000 : Problems with racial tension continue in the country of Zimbabwe as President Robert Mugabe pressed on with his plan to remove Zimbabwe's farms from white ownership, with the latest death when a white farmer in Zimbabwe is shot dead by squatters occupying his land.

1908 Canada Mining Accident

1908 : A record of a terrible mining accident that occurred a few days before this date was made public. Two well-known miners died while involved in drifting operations in the Spruce Creek Mine. While working, the mine had caved in, and these men were entrapped. A third person had escaped and sounded an alarm, hoping it would signal the other two men to evacuate in time. Unfortunately, it was too late.

1920 U.S.A. Tornadoes

1920 : Tornadoes swept through the mid-western and southern portions of the United States, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than a 1,000.

1921 US Advertising

1921 : A short, sweet description of the importance of advertising a business was presented in a local Oklahoma publication. This advice was depicted in the form of a short rhyming poem, to which the first line is as follows: “The city that gets the publicity gets the business.”

1930 Turkey City Name Changes

1930 : Two of Turkey's largest cities change their names ( Constantinople and Angora ).

The City of Constantinople is changed to Istanbul

The City of Angora is changed to Ankara

1933 U.S.A. Wet and Dry Rally

1933 : A wet and dry rally and parade took place. Both supporters of alcohol and supporters of dry laws attended this event, which occurred in Oklahoma. On the same day, further debate took place regarding the legalization of pari-mutuel horse-betting systems. No decision has yet been made regarding this issue, even though proposals towards legalizing this form of gambling were made two weeks beforehand.

1939 Spanish Civil War

1939 : Madrid, Spain is now in the hands of Nationalist General Francisco Franco and the Spanish civil war ends. The Spanish Civil War began in 1936 with Rebels attempting a coup d'état by parts of the army against the government. Like many modern conflicts other countries often become involved and take sides often supporting one side or the other with weapons and volunteers . The Spanish Civil War was no different with the Government in power getting the support of the Soviet Union and Mexico, and the rebels supported by Italy and Germany. The Spanish Civil War also bought out the worst in people with terrible atrocities committed on and by both sides during the war, with up to 100,000 people executed in the name of ???.

1940 Great Britain

1940 : France and Britain were beginning to think about expanding their support. They expected the alliance they create would be semi-permanent, providing strength for battle. For instance, World War II took place during this time, and France and Britain looked to other countries’ resources to draw upon.

1950 Yugoslavia Travel to US Eased

1950 : Yugoslavia and the United States made an effort to pave the way for restrictions of travel to Yugoslavia to be cleared. The issue of dual nationality was discussed as well.

1963 Russia Wedding During The Cold War

1963 : During one of the most crucial times in American and Russian history THE COLD WAR, an American woman wed a Russian man while studying in Moscow. This wedding was opposed by the Soviet government, the American woman’s mother, and the Red Communists Party. However, this did not stop the couple from saying “I Do.”

1964 U.S.A. The Beatles

1964 : The Beatles have 10 hits on Billboard's Hot 100 at the same time surpassing the previous best by Elvis Presley.

1969 U.S.A. Dwight D. Eisenhower

1969 : Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower died of heart failure aged 78 yrs.

1972 U.S.A. Farming Practices

1972 : A tiny bit of information regarding farming was printed. At this time in history, a typical U.S. farm produced enough food and fiber to supply the needs of up to 45 people (39 at home and six abroad). Ten years prior to this date, only about 24 people were supported by the yield of an average American farm. Current Figures - A Typical U.S. farm today supplies enough food and fiber to supply the needs of over 200 people

1990 Lithuania Drops Border Guards

1990 : Lithuania, formerly a part of the USSR, decided against earlier plans to implement a border guard. This was done in order to avoid conflict with Soviet Troops. Lithuania also ordered citizens to give up weapons at request of these Soviet military personnel.

1991 England Hillsborough Disaster

1991 : An inquest held over the deaths of 95 fans killed during during the Hillsborough disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's football stadium has returned a verdict of accidental death. The disaster happened during an FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool held at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15th 1989, and is blamed on too many Liverpool fans being allowed in to the back of an already full stand at the Leppings Lane end of the ground. As more and more fans were allowed in fans were being crushed to death by the sheer volume of additional fans being allowed in. In total 95 Liverpool fans died during the disaster.

Today in Labor History March 28, 2026

 

Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman was arrested for giving a lecture on contraceptives. Goldman believed that knowledge of and access to contraceptives was key to women’s ability to control their own bodies and thus their social and material well being. – 1915

Members of the Gas House Workers’ Union Local 18799 began what was to become a four-month recognition strike against the Laclede Gas Light Company in St. Louis. The union later said the strike was the first ever against a public utility in the U.S. – 1935

Martin Luther King led a march of striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Police attacked the workers with mace and sticks. A 16-year old boy was shot and 280 workers were arrested. He was assassinated a few days later after speaking to the striking workers. The sanitation workers were mostly black. They worked for starvation wages under plantation like conditions, generally under racist white bosses. Workers could be fired for being one minute late or for talking back and they got no breaks. Organizing escalated in the early 1960s and reached its peak in February 1968, when two workers were crushed to death in the back of a garbage truck. – 1968

Important Events From This day in History March 27

 

 

1964 U.S.A. Alaska Earthquake

1964 : A massive earthquake Named the “Good Friday Earthquake,” that measured 8.6 on the Richter scale struck Alaska , flattening buildings and triggering a massive tidal wave.

1952 U.S.A. "Singin' in the Rain"

1952 : The comedy musical starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds debuts at the movies.

1980 U.S.A. Mount St. Helens Erupts

1980 : After a week of small earthquakes below the area, an eruption of Mount St. Helens blasts a mushroom cloud over most of the state of Washington. Just 2 months later St. Helens catastrophically erupted on May 18, 1980 during which 57 people were killed or never found and huge tracts of forest and homes were destroyed.

1998 U.S.A. Viagra

1998 : The FDA approves the drug Viagra produced by Pfizer for use against impotence in men.

2001 California Electricity Price Increase 46%

2001 : California regulators approved electricity rate hikes of up to 46 percent following the partially deregulated California energy system.

1989 Soviet Union Parliamentary Elections

1989 : A high turnout of eighty Percent of Russian people vote in Soviet parliamentary elections with many non-communist members being elected. This is a continuing trend in the Soviet Union of openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions together with freedom of information "glasnost and perestroika."

An important point to note is the percentage of voters in the Soviet Union who used their right to vote compared with other countries in the same decade.

Soviet Union 80 - 85 % of those who had the right to vote did so

U.S.A. Presidential Elections 1988 Closer to 50 % of those who had the right to vote did so

United Kingdom General Elections 1987 Closer to 75% of those who had the right to vote did so

I think the important thing about the percentage of people who waste the vote they have is why. Is it because of apathy or because they feel disenfranchised by US politics

1908 Hong Kong Canada Immigrants

1908 : Hundreds of men in Hong Kong are waiting to come to Vancouver. These men were from Calcutta, India, and already had purchased transportation to Canada as a destination. However, they were held up. Canada was willing to let them in, but it was not so easy in other parts of the world, such as in Hong Kong.

1909 England First Fingerprint Evidence Used in Murder Case

1909 : For the first time fingerprint evidence is used to solve a murder case. The worlds first official Fingerprint Bureau was founded in Scotland Yard in 1901. It should also be noted that the World's first Fingerprint Bureau opened in Calcutta, India in 1897.

1920 Russia Famine

1920 : Famine was just starting in Russia due a food shortage. No wheat flour was available caused by disturbances in agriculture during the World War I and the Russian Revolution and civil war that followed.

1935 Germany Hitler Demands For Guns

1935 : Hitler demanded that Germany have equal military power with other European nations. He wanted this on a gun-for-gun basis. (However, it was also recorded that he wanted superiority over the Russian army.)

1940 Canada Liberal Party Win Elections

1940 : A summary of current Canadian election results was given. The Liberal Party of Canada won the majority of the votes, and Prime Minister MacKenzie King was put in office for another five-year term.

1945 U.S.A. Ella Fitzgerald

1945 : Jazz great Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys record the smash hit "It's Only a Paper Moon." Since then, it has become a popular standard for both jazz artists and pop music artists.

1955 U.S.A. Niagara Falls

1955 : A demolition crew using helicopters blasted ice in Niagara Falls. This was considered a fruitless attempt to break up the ice that has caused destruction along the shores of this body of the Niagara River.

1958 Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev

1958 : Nikita Khrushchev becomes the Premier of the Soviet Union today.

1962 U.S.A. Segregation

1962 : Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel of Louisiana, called for all Roman Catholic schools in the city of New Orleans to end their segregation policies.

1963 England 1st Beeching Report

1963 : The chairman of the British Transport Commission, Dr Richard Beeching, says nearly 1/4 of British Rail stations and track need to be closed to make the British Rail Network Viable, this equates to over 2,000 stations and 250 train services which could be withdrawn immediately on economic grounds. The outcome of his first report and a second report in 1965 led to the loss of 2,128 stations closed and many branch lines leading to the loss of 67,700 jobs.

1966 U.S.A. Indira Gandhi

1966 : Following her election as Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi arrives in the U.S. for a meeting with President Johnson.

1967 Indonesia Communist Party

1967 : At least one print publication revealed Indonesia’s decision towards Communist rule in this country. One decision made by the Indonesian parliament on the day before was to not allow former members of the Indonesian Communist Party to run for government office.

1968 Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin

1968 : Yuri Gagarin, the famous Russian cosmonaut who flew the world's first manned space mission, died during a training flight.

1972 Northern Ireland Factory Workers Strike

1972 : Thousands of office and factory workers left their jobs. This action was done in retaliation of British government takeover.

1977 Canary Islands Jumbo Jets Collide

1977 : Two 747 jumbo jets a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on the runway at an airport in the Canary Islands, killing 582 passengers and crew members.

1980 U.K. Alexander Kielland Platform

1980 : The Alexander Kielland platform 230 miles off shore from Dundee in Scotland is hit by a giant wave which causes one of the legs supporting it to give way, the platform then capsized throwing those trying to get off into the cold North Sea. RAF and Norwegian helicopters along with any shipping close to the accident have been asked to help with the rescue. The current stormy weather conditions are making rescue difficult and the bitter cold sea combined with the stormy conditions left 123 dead.

1987 U.S.A. Radon Gas

1987 : Radon gas caused a serious health threat in Montgomery County. This case was found in several homes, and it was suspected to be the cause of up to 50 deaths every year.

1990 U.K. Robert Runchie

1990 : The Most Reverend Robert Runchie’s plans to retired were made public in a newspaper. As of the following January, he had plans to step down from his position as Archbishop of Canterbury. He had served in this position for ten years.

1994 U.K. European Fighter Aircraft "Eurofighter"

1994 : The European Fighter Aircraft "Eurofighter" has makes its inaugural test flight. The joint venture plans for the Eurofighter were first conceived in 1983 and is a joint venture between British Aerospace Defence, Dasa in Germany, Alenia in Italy. Casa in Spain. The aircraft which achieves Mach 2 with an expected speed of 1,370mph entered production in 2003 as the Eurofighter Typhoon with 137 so far sold and in use in Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, Aeronautica Militare, Italiana, Ejército del Aire. Additional orders from Austria and Saudi Arabia have followed.

Today in Labor History March 27, 2026

 

Mother Jones

Mother Jones was ordered to leave Colorado, where state authorities accused her of “stirring up” striking coal miners. – 1904

This day marked the start of the 8-month Northern railway strike in Canada by the IWW. Wobblies picketed employment offices in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Tacoma and Minneapolis in order to block the hiring of scabs. – 1912

Fellow workers pay attention to what I’m going to mention,

For it is the fixed intention of the Workers of the World.

And I hope you’ll all be ready, true-hearted, brave and steady,

To gather ’round our standard when the red flag is unfurled.

CHORUS:

Where the Fraser river flows, each fellow worker knows,

They have bullied and oppressed us, but still our union grows.

And we’re going to find a way, boys, for shorter hours and better pay, boys

And we’re going to win the day, boys, where the river Fraser flows.

For these gunny-sack contractors have all been dirty actors,

And they’re not our benefactors, each fellow worker knows.

So we’ve got to stick together in fine or dirty weather,

And we will show no white feather, where the Fraser river flows.

Now the boss the law is stretching, bulls and pimps he’s fetching,

And they are a fine collection, as Jesus only knows.

But why their mothers reared them, and why the devil spared them,

Are questions we can’t answer, where the Fraser River flows.

(Lyrics by Joe Hill, 1912, to the tune of “Where the River Shannon Flows.”)

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that undocumented workers do not have the same rights as Americans when they are wrongly fired. – 2002

Important Events From This day in History March 26

 

  

1979 Camp David Peace Treaty Signed

1979 : Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin ended 30 years of bitter warfare by signing the first peace treaty between an Arab nation and the Jewish state . The peace treaty was the result of the Camp David Peace Accords, agreed in September 1978 when Israel agreed to withdraw troops from the Sinai Peninsula in return for Egypt's recognition of the state of Israel. Also agreed was some self determination for Palestinians.

1964 U.S.A. Funny Girl Musical

1964 : The musical ''Funny Girl,'' starring Barbra Streisand and featuring Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan, Jean Stapleton, and Lainie Kazan, opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. In 1966 the production staring Barbra Streisand opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End.

1953 U.S.A. Polio Vaccine

1953 : Dr. Jonas E. Salk, announced a vaccine had been used safely and successfully used in preliminary trials on 90 children and adults as a polio vaccine, two years later the vaccine was released and given to every child in the United States. Poliomyelitis ( Polio ) was one of the most dreaded illnesses which killed or paralyzed thousands during the early 20th century and following World War II the number of cases of Polio increased significantly making the need for a cure or a vaccine to protect against the disease even more important. Much of the funding for Dr. Jonas E. Salk research came from March Of Dimes Foundation ( National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis ) which had been set up under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 to raise money for polio research and to care for those suffering from the disease.

1997 U.S.A. Heaven's Gate Cult Suicides

1997 : The bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult were found dead in a California mansion all having committed suicide by ingesting a lethal mixture of phenobarbital and vodka. The Heaven's Gate Cult led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles and the leader Applewhite convinced his followers to commit suicide so that their souls could take a ride on a spaceship that they believed was hiding behind the Comet Hale-Bopp ( Haleys Comet ).

1992 Mike Tyson Convicted of Rape

1992 : Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is sentenced to six years in prison for raping Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington. He was released in March 1995 after serving three years. He did go back to fighting for the heavyweight championship after his release but in 1997 was again in trouble when he fought Evander Holyfield in Vegas and was disqualified for biting Holyfield on both ears. One bite was severe enough to remove a piece of Holyfield's right ear, which was found on the ring floor after the fight.

1925 U.S.A. Prohibition

1925 : During the Prohibition Era, local and federal officers destroyed equipment used to make liquor. Alcohol that was created was dumped out as well, and participants in illegal booze operations were put in jail.

1933 Germany Herman Goering

1933 : Leader Herman Goering spoke his point of view regarding the mistreatment of Jews. He made a statement that the persecution of a person just because he (or she) is a Jew will not be tolerated.

1948 Israel Fighting

1948 : According to an article printed in an international newspaper, fighting continued on the day before. Arabs attacked a Jewish convoy. As a result, 20 people were killed and 10 were wounded. There was no Good Friday break (although Good Friday was not a major Jewish Holiday, but Passover was).

1958 China Food Shortage

1958 : A shortage of food was occurring at this time, and it was not getting any better. This lack of sufficient food supplies started to take place in Shantung, China and has spread as far as the Southern coast. It is estimated 30 million died during the Great Chinese Famine officially referred to as the Three Years of Natural Disasters of 1958–61 in China, but now accepted by the Chinese Government as a combination of Natural Disasters and poor planning following the Great Leap Forward which moved many peasant farmers off the land into Iron and steel production, the famine was also caused by changes in farming practices and a series of droughts and floods including the great the Yellow River flood which is considered the 7th deadliest natural disaster in the 20th century.

1963 Korea Referendum

1963 : Local protest was made in Korea against military rule of this country, and the Korean people were soon to be given a chance to decide whether or not this should continue. A referendum would soon be taken by the government of this country. Likewise, nations such as the U.S.A. moved to support anti-military Korean government rule. This action was highly welcomed.

1971 Bangladesh Independence

1971 : The country of Bangladesh had declared its independence. This decree was made by Leader Sheikh. Bangladesh was formerly East Pakistan.

1981 New British Party Social Democrats

1981 : A new political party ( Social Democrats ) has been formed in the UK from four breakaway Labour party defectors Roy Jenkins, David Owen, William Rodgers and Shirley Williams. The Social Democrats have launched their new political party pledging to "reconcile the nation" and "heal divisions between classes". They left the Labour party over the current leadership under Michael Foot moving further to the radical left, but did not feel they could support the conservative party under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who was dividing Britain into haves and have nots. They have described the new Social Democrat Party as left-of-center party and believe strongly in Proportional representation "ONE MAN ONE VOTE" but without agreement by the other two parties it was unlikely to ever happen. The party formed an alliance over the next few years with the Liberal Party but after the 1987 general election which the conservatives won under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. The labour party chose a more moderate leader Neil Kinnock and supporters of the SDP went back to the labour party hoping that they could get a more moderate labour party back in power and the Social Democrat Party was folded in 1990.

1981 Germany Fundraiser to Fight World Hunger

1981 : Information about a very unique fundraiser to help fight against hunger around the world was printed on this day. A group of high school students in Germany planned to fast from solid food for up to 30 hours. This effort was made in order to learn about the affects of hunger and how it would feel to go without food. It was also designed to help raise funds for World Vision International, one of the largest hunger-fighting organizations. People were to pledge a certain amount of money for every hour a student would go without food.

1982 U.S.A. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1982 : Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Memorial came about from the work of the The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), established in 1979 to create a memorial to veterans of the Vietnam War, and in 1980 congress authorizes three acres near the Lincoln Memorial for the site. The main part of the memorial was completed in 1982 and receives around 3 million visitors each year.

1990

1990 : An announcement of the 40th anniversary of the first German-American Boy Scout Troop was made on this day. This troop met for the first time on January 13th, 1949.

1999 England Miners Win Compensation

1999 : Ex-miners in England have won their case for compensation in a deal worth £2 billion for lung disease caused through working underground in the coal mining industry. Legal representation for the miners claimed it had been known for decades dust produced in the coal mining process could cause lung disease but not enough was done to protect them. Many of these miners were working underground in the 50's before health and safety laws ensured there were dust masks and showers at collieries.

1999 U.S.A. Dr. Jack Kevorkian

1999 : Dr. Jack Kevorkian, was found guilty of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to a terminally ill man and airing it on the television program "60 Minutes." He allowed the airing of a videotape on "60 Minutes." that he had made which depicted the voluntary euthanasia of Thomas Youk, 52, an adult male with full capacity who was in the final stages of ALS. He was sentenced to to serve a 10-25 year prison sentence by the judge, he was released on parole in 2007 on the condition that he cannot help anyone else die. He no longer assists in voluntary euthanasia but does campaign that the law is changed ( currently the only US State that allows legalized doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people is Oregon. )

2000 Israel Pope John Paul II

2000 : Pope John Paul II who is currently on visiting Israel as part of his Millennium Pilgrimage, prayed for forgiveness of the sins of those involved in the Holocaust. John Paul II has said visiting the area has fulfilled one of his dreams since he was elected Pontiff in 1978. The trip is a milestone in relations between Catholicism and Judaism.

2000 Russia Vladimir Putin

2000 : Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia for the first time he went on to be re-elected in 2004 and is the current President of the Russian Federation.

2002 Afghanistan Earthquake

2002 : A devastating earthquake shook up villages located in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Northern Afghanistan. It was estimated that 1,800 people had died and up to 10,000 people were homeless.

Today in Labor History March 26

 

San Francisco brewery workers began a 9-month strike as local employers followed the union-busting lead of the National Brewer’s Association and fired their unionized workers, replacing them with scabs. Two unionized brewers refused to go along, kept producing beer, prospered wildly and induced the Association to capitulate. A contract benefit since having unionized two years earlier, certainly worth defending: free beer. – 1868

Congress amended the Immigration Act of 1907 to specifically bar the entrance of “paupers, anarchists, criminals and the diseased”. The move was specifically designed to limit entry of Eastern and Southern European immigrants, many of whom were becoming radicalized by the deplorable working and living conditions in late 19th and early 20th century America. – 1910

On this day in Labor History the year was 1911. Marking one the most tragic days in US labor history. 146 women and girls died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

A mining disaster at Jed, West Virginia killed 83 workers. – 1912

On March 26th, Chicano labor organizer Cesar Chavez started a 340-mile march from Delano to Sacramento, California, to advocate for the rights of farm workers - 1966

On March 26, 2020, new unemployment claims in the United States surged to 3.3 million, the largest weekly increase in U.S. history to date amid job losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic - 2020

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

How AI Is Creeping Into The New York Times - The Atlantic

Cancel culture vs. free speech: Why America needs a cease-fire - E&P Magazine

How Reach and Immediate are rising to the AI disinformation challenge - Journalism UK

US newspaper circulations 2025: Washington Post print declines 21% in a year - Press Gazette

Proposed Michigan public notice changes spark transparency fears from newspaper industry - MA

Important Events From This day in History March 25

 

 

1965 U.S.A. The Alabama Freedom March

1965 : Following the end of the march by 25,000 civil rights supporters from Selma to Montgomery after four days and nights on the road under the protection of Army troops and federalized Alabama National Guardsmen. They were refused permission to give a petition to Governor Wallace which said:

"We have come not only five days and 50 miles but we have come from three centuries of suffering and hardship. We have come to you, the Governor of Alabama, to declare that we must have our freedom NOW. We must have the right to vote; we must have equal protection of the law and an end to police brutality."

During the rally that followed the refusal by the Governor of Alabama, Governor Wallace. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated

"We are not about to turn around. We, are on the move now. Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us."

1807 UK abolished Slave Trade

1807 : The British House of Commons had passed a law forbidding the capture or transport of slaves and it became law on This Day, 1807, Offending captains were fined £100 per slave found on board their ships (although this could lead to slaves being thrown overboard).

1911 New York Shirt Factory Fire

1911 : 148 Girls Perish in a New York Shirt Factory when they became trapped by a fire. The Triangle Shirtwaist Co. factory located on the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of a New York City loft building, didn't have an outside fire escape.

1920 Treaty of Versailles

1920 : France considered the possibility of giving Germany more time to pay reparation debts that it owed after World War I. They had refused to pay the 12 billion of the 20 billion gold marks (equivalent to millions of dollars) balance owed. The motion to pay this debt was agreed upon as of the signing of the World War I Treaty of Versailles, which was first signed in 1919. However, the Germans resented the conditions of the treaty, and were still fighting the terms of it well over a year later. Eventually, Germany’s refusal to comply with the peace treaty signed in 1919 lead to the Second World War.

1929 U.S.A. Mini Market Crash

1929 : The stock market experiences a mini-crash on This Day, 1929 as investors start to sell their stocks. This crash reveals a shaky foundation in the market. Borrowing and credit is effected as interest rates climb to twenty percent.

1935 Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

1935 : Hugh S. Johnson spoke out very boldly his point of view regarding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He said it was the Romans who had really killed him and not the Jews. He also mentioned that Jesus was “framed” and did not receive a fair trial. This argument was often made regarding the un-justification treatment of Jews. However, in Johnson’s case, he described actions against Jesus-in his own way-as an abuse of political power.

1939 Billboard Magazine Introduces Hillbilly Chart

1939 : Billboard Magazine introduced the ( country music ) hillbilly music chart. The term country music did not begin to be used until the 1940s when the earlier term hillbilly music was deemed as degrading to the style of music.

1940 England Not Working Class War

1940 : Concerns arose among the working class that the current war was an imperialistic one. Further accounts reveal that many workers of England had no desire to be a part of it. They felt that the purpose of it was to fight for the protection of French and English Possessions. Working class unions advocated against this war (World War II).

1947 U.S.A. Coal Mine Explosion

1947 : An explosion at a Coal mine in Centralia, Illinois, today trapped more than 100 miners and sent deadly gas through the mine's tunnels.

1950 Czechoslovakia Hostages

1950 : A news article printed this date in 1950 portrayed an account of a hostage situation in Czechoslovakia. On the day before, three Czech planes were held at gunpoint by Anti-Communist rebels. The pilots of these planes were forced to fly to the Erding Air Base, which is located in Germany. The planes departed from three different Czech locations-Brno, Bratislava, and Ostrava.

1957 Italy The Treaty of Rome

1957 : France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg sign the treaty in Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), also known as the Common Market.

1963 Korea Civilian Rule

1963 : The United States made the decision to support the return of civilian rule in Korea. This action was taken on the grounds that the military junta structure now present in Korea could lead to the continued de-stabilization of that country’s political system (government).

1967 U.S.A. Anti Vietnam War Demo

1967 : Martin Luther King, Jr., leads a march of 5,000 antiwar demonstrators in Chicago.

1971 U.S.A. Louis Armstrong

1971 : Louis Armstrong, the famous trumpet player, had undergone a temporary tracheotomy after being admitted to a New York hospital. Armstrong had received this throat operation after receiving treatment for heart trouble.

1975 Saudi Arabia King Faisal Assassinated

1975 : King Faisal is fatally wounded by his nephew Prince Faisal Ibu Musaed when he fires 3 shots directly at the king from a pistol during a royal audience. Prince Faisal bin Musaed was later found guilty of the murder of his uncle and was beheaded in public in the capital Riyadh.

1975 Britain's National Front Party

1975 : Right wing opponents who are member of Britain's National Front Party and oppose Britain's entry into the common market rally in Islington, North London.

1980 Russia Moscow Olympics Boycott

1980 : The British Olympic Association has defied the British Government and will be sending a team to the Moscow Olympics later in the year. The British and US government and other Governments around the world have called for a boycott of the Moscow Olympics. Although many governments pressured their Olympic Athletes only 16 countries did not compete including The United States, Japan, West Germany, China, Canada and 9 others. To place it in context 81 other countries athletes many in defiance of their governments wishes did compete but many as a sign of support against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan marched under the Olympic Flag, instead of their national flags.

1981 Germany Squatters

1981 : German police raided a home occupied by squatters. They were looking for evidence leading to the resolution of local crimes committed. The next day, these squatters were cleared from the building, and over a thousand youth protested in the streets. On the day after, many young people argued with authority.

1990 U.S.A. Happy Land Fire

1990 : A fire at an unlicensed social club called "Happy Land" in New York City with blocked fire escapes and no alarms or sprinkler systems kills 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants.

1991 Italy NATO

1991 : Three prominent NATO officers called for a year-round allied naval force to be stationed in the Mediterranean. This action would help provide heightened security for all those who pass through these waters. These new naval forces would replace the temporary ones that were currently stationed in this area. The Naval On-Call Force would usually stay in this area two times a year for up to six weeks at a time.

Today in Labor History March 25, 2026

 

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Coxey’s Army (Common-Wealth Army) headed to Washington DC to demand economic reform. Coxey was a wealthy businessman and Populist who proposed a plan of federal work relief on public roads to be financed by Treasury notes to end the depression of 1893. When Congress refused to pass this bill, Coxey declared, We will send a petition to Washington with “boots on“.Coxey and his lieutenants were arrested by police and about 50 people were beaten or trampled. – 1894

A federal court issued the first injunction against a union under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The case was brought against the Workingman’s Amalgamated Council of New Orleans for interfering with commerce. The law was a major victory for bosses. – 1893

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed 146 people, mostly women and young girls who were working in sweatshop conditions. As tragic as this fire was for poor, working-class women, it is estimated that over 100 workers died on the job each day in the U.S. in 1911. What was most significant was that this tragedy became a flashpoint for worker safety and public awareness of sweatshop conditions.

The Triangle workers had to work from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm, seven days a week. The work was almost non-stop. They got one break per day (30 minutes for lunch). For this, they were paid only $6.00 per week. In some cases, they had to provide their own needles and thread. Furthermore, the women were locked inside the building to minimize time lost to bathroom breaks.

A year prior to the fire, 20,000 garment workers walked off the job at 500 clothing factories in New York to protest the deplorable working conditions. They demanded a 20% raise, a 52-hour work week and overtime pay. Over 70 smaller companies conceded to the union’s demands within the first 48 hours of the strike. However, the bosses at Triangle formed an employers’ association with the owners of the other large factories. Soon after, strike leaders were arrested. Some were fined. Others were sent to labor camps. Armed thugs were also enlisted to beat up and intimidate strikers. By the end of the month, almost all of the smaller factories had conceded to the union. By February 1910, the strike was finally settled. – 1911

Heavy deposits of coal dust caused an explosion in the Centralia Coal Company’s Mine No. 5 in Centralia, Illinois, killing 111 of the 142 miners at work at the time. Following the disaster, UMWA President John L. Lewis invoked the union’s right to call memorial days and as a memorial to those killed at Centralia, the miners did not work for six days. – 1947

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled employers may sometimes favor women and members of minority groups over men and whites in hiring and promoting in order to achieve better balance in the workforce. – 1987