Important Events From This day in History December 6th

  

1969 U.S.A. -- Altamont Rolling Stones Concert

1969 : A free concert organized by the Rolling Stones featuring Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Rolling Stones at the disused Altamont Speedway in Livermore, Calif., is marred by the deaths of four people, including a man who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel, The stage, which was only four feet high, was surrounded by the Hells Angels, who acted as security for the concert.

1947 U.S.A. -- The Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park in Florida is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It contains the southern 20% of the Everglades which was established as a National Park in 1934. The park is dedicated by President Harry S. Truman after 14 years on this date in history .

1989 Canada -- Ecole Polytechnique massacre

A gunmen dressed in combat fatigues enters the Ecole Polytechnique a Montreal engineering school Cafeteria where he separates the male and female students and begins shooting the female students, he then went into other classrooms doing similar thing. By the end of his reign of terror he had killed murdered 14 women students and injured a further 12 before killing himself. The gunmen was 25 year-old Marc Lepine, armed with a legally obtained semi-automatic rifle.

1790 United States -- US Capitol Moves From New York to Philadelphia

The United States Capitol moves from New York City to Philadelphia where it stays as the capitol until 1800 when the District of Columbia is completed and becomes the capitol.

1900 Great Britain -- Queens Speech

1900 : The Earl of Halsbury read the queen's speech in the House of Lords. In this special session the monarch appealed for funds to keep the British army going in South Africa and China. A sizable number of women were present and the meeting was brief.

1917 Canada -- Munitions Ship Explodes In Halifax Harbor

A French munitions ship filled with highly explosive munitions--2,300 tons of picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 35 tons of high-octane gasoline, and 10 tons of gun cotton, explodes 20 minutes after colliding with another vessel in Halifax Harbor killing more than 1,800 people and destroying more than 1,600 homes.

1921 France -- French Blue-Beard

A famous trial at Versailles pitted prosecutor Godefroy against a well known criminal Landru, referred to as the "French Blue-Beard". The prosecutor exclaimed, "The Landru who you have to judge is a savage beast tracked down in the midst of his career of crime. He is a murderer, a monster whose heart no human sentiment has ever touched." During the trial blue beard's face was impassive, although he knew he was headed for the guillotine.

1922 Irish Free State -- Created

1922 : The Irish Free State is created as a dominion with British sovereign authority under the terms of the Anglo Irish Treaty. Originally the agreement did cover Northern Ireland but Northern Ireland chose the option to opt out of the dominion.

More about the Irish Free State

1938 Lithuania -- German Control

1938 : The Lithuanian government was rearranged because of Nazi German insistence. Bronius K Balutis, who worked as an editor for a Chicago Lithuanian-American newspaper became deputy prime minister in order to maintain German control

1941 Tunisia -- Germans Move into Tunisia

The allies feared that German inroads in Tunisia would pave the way for Nazi control over Africa. President Petain of France let the Germans move into Tunisia, but he would not allow them to use the French navy against Britain.

1954 U.S.A. -- Wonder Dog

1954 : A wonder dog named "Kid" was astounding the public with her uncanny genius. Owner H.S. Catchell claimed the canine understood more than 2,000 words and was still learning. Kid came from Omaha, Nebraska and her mother was a Labrador-Airedale cross. Apparently, the dog can point to light switches, identify certain stripes of neckties, and retrieve maps from a pile of papers. Kid's owner claims that mutts are smarter than purebreds when it comes to learning human language.

1962 England -- Deadly Smog

The thick layer of smog which has covered London causing the death of 90 people for the last three days is spreading across the country. Due to the high concentration of sulfur dioxide in the smog the Ministry of Health has advised those who are vulnerable to stay indoors or make "do-it-yourself masks" such as thick cotton gauze or a scarf around the mouth and nose.

1966 Hawaii -- Pearl Harbor

Captain James L. Holloway III master of the globe's largest nuclear warship thinks that a second attack on Pearl Harbor on the scale of December 7th, 1941 was unlikely. He remarked, "Since World War II, we have been at war more than we have not been at war… This is the most proficient and most competent military that I can imagine has ever existed in history."

1975 England -- Balcombe Street Hostages

Four armed men believed to be members of an IRA hit squad accused of shooting dead TV presenter Ross McWhirter on the run from police burst into a flat in in Balcombe Street, central London and take two hostages, The siege lasts six days and ends when the men surrendered themselves to detectives.

1978 Spain -- Free Elections

Spaniards cast a vote for democracy and are expected to endorse a new constitution in the referendum ending 40 years of dictatorial rule.

1979 Israel -- Iranian hostage crisis

Israel was hoping that the Iranian hostage crisis would propel Jimmy Carter's government towards a more pro-Israel mode. For quite some time Israel had accused the president of leaning towards a pro-Arab stance.

1983 Philippines -- Lean Christmas

Ferdinand Marcos told Filipinos to have a lean Christmas without luxury items. On the list of luxuries not to be purchased were apples, grapes, oranges, some kinds of fish, certain meats and other items. The Philippines was in the midst of a foreign exchange crisis.

1990 Iraq -- Defiant To US

Although sanctions and diplomacy were tried with Iraq its dictator, Saddam Hussein, remained defiant. Therefore, the Bush government threatened to forcibly throw Iraq out of Kuwait by January 15 if it did not leave peacefully.

1992 India -- Hindu Militants

A mob of Hindu militants tears down the Babri mosque in Ayodhya and attacked Muslim houses and property in the area setting off two months of Hindu-Muslim rioting that claimed at least 2,000 lives.

1994 U.S.A. -- Orange County

Orange County, Calif. an affluent California community filed for bankruptcy protection due to investment losses of about $2 billion on its multi-billion-dollar investment fund.

1994 England -- Oil Found Under Windsor Castle

Studies have shown there could be up to £1bn of oil lying beneath the Windsor Castle, in Berkshire, and the Queen has given the go ahead for oil drilling to take place in the grounds of Windsor Castle

1998 Venezuela -- Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez Frías the leader of the left-wing Fifth Republic Movement is elected President of Venezuela

2002 U.S.A. -- Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder is sentenced to community service for stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills.

2004 Saudi Arabia -- Al Qaida

Al Qaida struck the U.S. Consulate in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, with explosives and machine guns, killing nine people

2006 Iraq -- Calls for Arab Nations Support

Tehran urged Arab nations to stand together and reject U.S. military bases on their soil. Iran's chief security officer warned, "The security and stability of the region needs to be attained and we should do it inside the region, not through bringing in foreign forces."

2006 Space -- NASA displays images of water sediment on Mars

NASA photographs reveal the deposits seen in two gullies on Mars that suggest that they have carried water through them over the past seven years. These are of liquid water, and not the water ice and water vapor that were already known to have existed on Mars. The photos have increased speculation of the potential for microbial life on the planet. 'These observations give the strongest evidence to date that water still flows occasionally on the surface of Mars,' said one of the Mars Exploration Program's scientists.

2006 U.S.A. -- Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima wins best film at the National Board of Review awards

Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima has won one of the first major prizes of the film award season. The movie received first place in the National Board of Review (NBR) best film category. Letters from Iwo Jima tells the story of the battle for control of the island during World War II, and is told from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers. "Letters from Iwo Jima is probably Mr. Eastwood's masterpiece and perhaps one of the greatest films of our time," said NBR president Annie Schulhof.

2007 U.S.A. -- The C.I.A. admit to destroying interrogation tapes

The Central Intelligence Agency has destroyed at least two of the videotapes that documenting the interrogation of two al-Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody. It took this step in the middle of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the agency’s secret detention program. The videotapes were said to show agency operatives subjecting terror suspects to effective interrogation techniques in 2002.

2007 U.S.A. -- Mitt Romney

The Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has sought to dispel public scepticism about his Mormon faith by promising to defend religious freedom. Speaking only twenty-eight days before the first nominating race, he says that he would serve 'no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest' if elected. But Mr. Romney also criticized those who called for the removal from public life of 'any acknowledgement of God.'

2009 Iran -- Restrictions made on Iranian Students’ Day

Akbar Rafsanjani has been speaking a day before the annual Student Day, when demonstrations against the rule of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, are expected to go ahead. Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former Iranian president and opposition member, has accused the country's rulers of being intolerant, when restrictions on journalists are being imposed by the authorities. 'The situation in the country is such that constructive criticism is not accepted,' Rafsanjani told students in Mashhad. He called on Iran's political groups to work together to 'create a climate of freedom which will convince the majority of people and erase ambiguities.' Several websites have urged people to gather on Student Day near Tehran University campus.

2009 U.S.A. -- Bin Laden Whereabouts Not Known

The United States has no idea where Osama bin Laden may be hiding, and has not had the benefit of any substantial intelligence on his possible whereabouts for years, the Secretary of Defence has conceded. The morning's talk-shows have been defending and explaining Barack Obama's new surge-and-exit strategy for the Afghanistan war, and Mr. Gates said that bin Laden's capture would remain important to the military effort in the region. He was quick to admit there had been no recent progress. 'The U.S. would go and get bin Laden if it could gather reliable information on his location,' he said. Asked how long it had been since the U.S. had reliable intelligence on his whereabouts, Gates admitted: 'I think it's been years.'

2011 Belgium -- Belgium Swears In New Government After 541 Days

Belgium swears in a new government after a record-breaking 541 days without one. Elio Di Rupo became the Prime Minister and was sworn in by King Albert II. Di Rupo became Belgiums first Socialist prime minister since 1974 and the first French-speaking prime minister in thirty years.

2012 United States -- Tea Party Senator Resigns

Republican Tea Party Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina announced that he would resign from his office in order to take a job leading a conservative think tank.

2013 Mexico -- Suspects Detained in Radioactive Truck Heist

Six men who had reportedly suffered symptoms of radiation poisoning were detained by authorities in Mexico only a few days after a truck carrying radioactive medical waste was hijacked outside of Mexico City. The truck had been carrying "Colbalt-60" and it was unlikely that the thieves knew what was in the truck, authorities reported that anyone who had come in close contact with the substance would likely face deadly symptoms of radiation poisoning.

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

The next chapter for fact-checking: information integrity - Poynter

How The Telegraph turns community into content - Journalism UK

Lakeway Publishers sells Missouri regional operation - CherryRoad Media

Tuning out TV news might be behind the decline in media trust - Nieman Lab

Thinking About The People Formerly Known as the Press - Second Rough Draft

Howard University’s commitment to journalism and democracy - E&P Magazine

Most popular news apps in the UK: BBC News now bigger than Apple News - PG

The 2025 Pulitzer Prize Journalism Competition: A précis for entrants - The Pulitzer Prizes

Today in Labor History

 

Unionists John T. and James B. McNamara are sentenced to 15 years and life, respectively, after confessing to dynamiting the Los Angeles Times building during a drive to unionize the metal trades in the city.  They placed the bomb in an alley next to the building, set to detonate when they thought the building would be empty; it went off early, and an unanticipated gas explosion and fire did the real damage, killing twenty people. The newspaper was strongly conservative and anti-union - 1911
 
Ending a 20-year split, the two largest labor federations in the U.S. merge to form the AFL-CIO, with a membership estimated at 15 million - 1955
 
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney welcomes the collapse of World Trade Organization talks in Seattle, declaring, "No deal is better than a bad deal." - 1999
 
The U.S. Department of Labor reports employers slashed 533,000 jobs the month before—the most in 34 years—as the Great Recession surged. The unemployment rolls had risen for seven months before that and were to continue to soar for another 10 months before topping 10 percent and beginning to level off late the following year - 2008

Important Events From This day in History December 5

  

1945 Bermuda - - Aircraft Lost In Bermuda Triangle

1945 : Five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo bombers comprising Flight 19 take off from the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida on a routine three hour training mission. Flight 19 was scheduled to take them due east for 120 miles, north for 73 miles, and then back over a final 120-mile leg that would return them to the naval base. They never returned. This area is known as the Bermuda Triangle and is renowned for causing instrument malfunctions including Compass and Radio Malfunctions. The Bermuda Triangle is said to stretch from the southern U.S. coast across to Bermuda and down to the Atlantic coast of Cuba and Santo Domingo.

1952 UK -- London Killer Fog

A terrible deathly fog ( "The Great Smog" or "The Big Smoke" ) causes the death of thousands of Londoners it starts on 5th and ends on 9th. The smog had been created by a combination of the cold fog combining with sulfur pollutants caused through an increase of coal smoke due to increased burning of coal fires.

Due to the knowledge gained from this deadly occurrence there was a rethink of causes of air pollution and new regulations were put in place including the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and of 1968, and the City of London (Various Powers) Act of 1954.

1977 Bermuda - - Race Riots

1977 : In Hamilton, Bermuda British soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers were called in to control race riots in the city. The riots went on for three days and caused $5 million in damages. Civilians and 5,000 tourists stayed hidden indoors. There had been two nights of fire bombing by youth, but severe rains quelled the violence.

1905 UK - - Cabinet Resigns

A crisis in British politics was brewing. The premier of England, Arthur J. Balfour and his cabinet resigned and King Edward asked Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman to put together a new government. The old parliament was not to dissolve until the New Year. One of the major issues in British politics at this time was the question of home rule for Ireland.

1927 Canada -- Roller Canary Championship

For the first time in history, a Roller Canary Championship, open to the entire world took place in the west. Defeating all other warbling birds owner William Latimer, President of the Western Canada Roller Canary Club, had the canary who was the undefeated champion. The Manitoba Free Press explained, "Each bird was given five minutes in which to sing, after which the cage was closed and the next bird given his chance.

1932 Soviet Union -- Ration cards

The Soviet Union decided to shift the distribution of food, clothing, and other supplies to the factories, out of the hands of the government. Ration cards were to be given to the public and it was up to the factories to procure the goods.

1933 U.S.A. -- 18th Amendment Ends

Prohibition comes to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment Available as a downloadable image on our Public Domain Images Page

18th Amendment / Prohibition Timeline

1948 Singapore -- Airstrip

The small crown colony of Singapore, Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean, was being considered as an airstrip that would link Australia to Britain. After a contentious debate in the Singapore government it was decided to spend $2,500 to repair the airstrip for air traffic.

1950 Korea -- Chinese Enter Pyongyang

Following the United nations retreat from North Korea, Chinese troops have entered the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

1959 Turkey -- President Eisenhower Visit

President Eisenhower was to visit Ankara, Turkey for seventeen hours and all over the country the Turkish citizens were wildly enthusiastic. Posters of "Turks like Ike too" were placed everywhere around the city. Turkey was a strong supporter of the Atlantic Pact.

1966 South Vietnam -- U.S. Planes Attack Hanoi

U.S. war planes were retaliating for the largest loss of their planes since the beginning of the Vietnam War. They hit targets near Hanoi and shot down an enemy plane. Near Saigon thirty Viet Cong were killed as well as three Americans.

1977 Egypt -- Breaks of Relations With Other Arab Countries

Following the hard line countries opposition to Egypt and signing the Declaration of Tripoli which includes sanctions against Egypt because President Anwar al-Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize the state of Israel. President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt has broken all relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria and South Yemen.

1987 Haiti -- US Diplomats Withdrawn

One hundred and fifty American embassy workers and diplomats were withdrawn from Haiti due to the unstable political situation. They were expected to be home by Christmas. Eighty embassy employees were left behind to take care of essential services. Sixty-four million dollars in aid was withdrawn by President Reagan and Haiti's national elections were not held because voters were endangered.

1991 UK -- Maxwell Empire Faces Bankruptcy

Following the death of Robert Maxwell administrators have been called in to try to salvage the Maxwell business empire, which includes the Mirror Group Newspapers and is at least £1bn in debt

1995 Sri Lanka -- Tamil Tiger

Sri Lankan forces have taken back the city of Jaffna from Tamil Tiger guerrilla forces after a 7 week operation. The Tamil Tigers had been in control of the city for some time and had their own police force, law courts and were collecting taxes from the city population. The Tamil Tigers are a guerrilla force who are seeking to create a Tamil sovereign socialist state in the north and east of the country of Sri Lanka ( formerly Ceylon ).

1996 U.S.A. -- Alan Greenspan

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan questions whether the stock market is overvalued, saying in a speech in Washington, ''How do we know when irrational exuberance has unduly inflated asset values? that is thought to have led Japanese stocks to fall 3.2%

1999 Northern Ireland -- IRA

In Belfast the Protestant-Catholic government was new and fragile. The main issue left to establish peace in Ireland was the disarming of the IRA, however some IRA militants said they had enough weapons to keep on fighting for another generation. General John de Chastelain, a Canadian disarmament leader, was planning a meeting with a chief IRA leader – possibly Brian Keenan -- to discuss where the IRA has its cache of weapons stashed.

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

NPR and Religion News Service announce new partnership - NPR

Journalists strike over proposed sale of Observer to Tortoise Media - The Guardian

Why local publishers must seize the streaming audio revolution now - E&P Magazine

The strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is now the longest in the nation - Capital-Star

Newspaper closures muddle future of notice in New Jersey - Public Notice Resource Center

There’s now a way for journalists to verify their Bluesky accounts through their employers - NL

Today in Labor History December 4, 2024

 

President Roosevelt announces the end of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), concluding the four-year run of one of the American government's most ambitious public works programs. It helped create jobs for roughly 8.5 million people during the Great Depression and left a legacy of highways and public buildings, among other public gains - 1943

UAW President Walter Reuther elected president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations - 1952

Cesar Chavez jailed for 20 days for refusing to end United Farm Workers' grape boycott - 1970

Important Events From This day in History December 4

  

1998 Space - - International Space Station

The first 6 astronauts are taken by Space Shuttle Endeavour to Attach the Unity Module to Zarya FGB to begin the assembly in space of the International Space Station, as of 2008 24 out of the 32 modules to complete the Space Station are connected. The International Space Station (ISS) is a joint project between (NASA) U.S.A., (RKA) Russia , (JAXA) Japan , (CSA) Canada and eleven European countries (ESA). The space station is in low orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye. Since 2nd November 2000 the Space Station has been manned continually. The International Space Station came about after the cold war ended with an "Agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation Concerning Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes."

1952 Great Britain - - Deadly London Smog

A deadly smog created by the smoke soot and sulfur dioxide from the factories, cars and coal fires in local homes begins to hover over London, England, which continues for four days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people.

1872 Azores - - Mary Celeste Mystery

Crew from the Dei Gratia, a small British brig spot the Mary Celeste, at full sail near the Azores Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was seaworthy, its stores and supplies were untouched, but not a soul was on board.

1969 U.S.A. - - Black Panther Party

Police kill Fred Hampton, 21, and Mark Clark, 22, members of the Black Panther Party who are gunned down by 14 police officers as they lie sleeping in their Chicago, Illinois, apartment. The Black Panther Party was an African American organization founded to promote civil rights and social justice and was a part of the anti establishment counterculture of the Sixties.

1909 Denmark - - Princess Waldemar

In Copenhagen Princess Waldemar lay on her death bed. The princess suffered from the flu, but became unconscious and was expected to die. Her husband, Prince Waldemar, the late King Christian's youngest son, was travelling with their three sons in India.

1920 Greece - - Financial Aid Withdrawn

Greece was warned by The Allied Supreme Council that their financial aid would be withdrawn if King Constantine was returned to power. Some of the allies believed that Smyrna would be more secure in Turkish hands than under King Constantine.

1934 Turkey - - Uniforms Forbidden

In Turkey all uniforms were forbidden - even Boy Scout uniforms from other countries. Also prohibited were Nazi brown uniforms and Fascist black military dress.

1941 United States - - Airplane Production

President Roosevelt implied that he would like the United States to produce 50,000 airplanes. Probably this goal would be met according to the president of the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce. That would mean manufacturing 4,000 planes a month until July 1945.

1943 United States - - PWA Ended

The Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Great Depression of the 1930's is ended.

1945 United States - - United Nations

The U.S. Senate approves U.S. participation in the UN. The United Nations had officially came into existence on October 24, 1945.

1953 Canada - - US Relations

Canadian-U.S. relations were at a low point, even though the two countries boasted the longest undefended border in the world. The source of the animosity was over Igor Gouzenko who had information on Soviet espionage. The Royal Commission in Canada had used Gouzenko's testimony to create the most comprehensive document on Soviet spying ever. However, Canadians felt that the U.S. was blackmailing Minister of External Affairs, Lester B. Pearson, by suggesting that he leaked information to Soviet spies.

1954 U.S.A. - - Burger King

The first Burger King (Insta Burger King) is opened in Miami, Florida by James McLamore and David Edgerton. Burger King continued to grow slowly and in 1967 followed other fast food chains by allowing franchise restaurants. The idea was copied from the fast food restaurant concept introduced by Dick and Mac McDonald (Ray Kroc bought out Dick and Mac McDonald in 1955).

1961 U.K. - - Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill an oral contraception will now be available on the National Health Service..

1971 Northern Ireland - - Pub Bomb Belfast

Bomb demolishes crowded Belfast pub killing at least 10 and injuring 17 one of a number of attacks.

1971 Pakistan - - Worsening Relations India and Pakistan

The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and fighting intensifies in Karachi. The United nations calls for a cease fire and negotiations over concern that the fighting could deteriorate into full scale war.

1974 Norway - - Oil Dispute

Russia and Norway were having another round of talks about the boundaries beneath the Barents Sea in the Arctic. There was oil under the sea and Russia was eager to get at it, however, Norway wanted to wait and get the borders settled before allowing the Russians to bring their oil drilling equipment in.

1989 Israel - - Chemical Weapons

Israel feared the use of chemical weapons should another war break out with Syria. One Israeli soldier warned, 'We know they have chemical weapons. We have to assume they would use chemical weapons in a war.' Syrians had been seen by Israelis training for chemical warfare. However, it was believed that Israel had the same weapons at their disposal.

1991 Lebanon - - Last US Hostage Released

Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, the last and longest-held US hostage in Lebanon, is freed by an Islamic militant group after 2,454 days in captivity.

1991 U.S.A. - - Last PAN AM Flight

Pan American World Airways (Pan AM) takes it's last commercial Pan Am Flight 436 from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Miami. Pan Am is remembered for being the first worldwide mail delivery service on Aircraft called Clipper flying boats, and created many firsts including the first commercial service across the North Atlantic.

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Times-Mirror truck after accident

Journalists think of leaving X for Bluesky - Poynter

List of Hollywood and media layoffs so far in 2024 - Deadline

Americans continue to say media scrutiny keeps politicians from doing things - PRC

News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Hearst Magazines and Now This latest hit - Press Gazette

Student journalists tackle America’s political divide through News21 fellowship - E&P Magazine

Canadian news publishers sue OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement - The Associated Press

Today in Labor History December 3, 2024

 

Brotherhood of Timber workers

Textile strikers win 10-hour day, Fall River, Mass. - 1866

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passes an ordinance setting an eight-hour workday for all city employees - 1867

IWW union Brotherhood of Timber Workers organized - 1910

Canada’s Quebec Bridge, spanning the St. Lawrence River, opened to traffic on this day after the deaths of 89 construction workers in the course of the job. A flawed design was blamed for a 1907 collapse that killed 75; another 13 died in 1916 when a hoisting device failed as the central span was being lifted - 1919

General strike begins in Oakland, Calif., started by female department store clerks - 1946

The express passenger train "20th Century Limited" ends over 60 years of service when it takes its last run from New York City to Chicago - 1967

5,000 union construction workers in Oahu, Hawaii march to City Hall in protest of a proposed construction moratorium by the City Council - 1976

Arrests began today in Middleton, NJ of teachers striking in violation of a no-strike law. Ultimately 228 educators were jailed for up to seven days before they were released following the Middleton Township Education Association's agreement to take the dispute to mediation - 2001

Lumber workers in Western Louisiana formed Brotherhood of Timber Workers Union. A response to a decade or more of mistreatment and abuse by employers - the 'Lumber Barons.'

"These labor disorders led to the formation in 1906 of the Southern Lumber Operators' Association, whose primary concern was to prevent organized labor from gaining any foothold in area lumber mills." - from http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ocbbb
...

"Everywhere, except in the Lake Charles district of Louisiana, where the I. W. W.'s influence has already begun to make itself felt, the workers took the promise of the Trust that, if they would return to work and not form a labor union, the Trust pledged its "word of honor" to restore the old wages and hours just as soon as "prosperity" came back." - from http://www.workerseducation.org/crutch/pamphlets/lumber/ch010.html

"The movement spread quickly across Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana in response to a decade of substandard living conditions, regimented lives, and a lack of job security." - from http://cenlamar.com/2007/05/09/the-historic-tale-of-the-brotherhood-of-timber-workers/

Important Events From This day in History December 3rd

  

1984 India - - Bhopal Chemical Accident

Thousands of people die from the effects of toxic gases which leaked from Bhopal Union Carbide Factory near the central Indian city of Bhopal. The leak also caused injuries to nearly 250,000 more with over 10,000 have since died from toxic gas related diseases. The cause of the leaks was traced to most of the safety systems not working and the deaths and injuries were caused by exposure to the highly toxic gasses.

1967 South Africa - - First Heart Transplant

Surgeons at the Groote Shuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, perform the first human heart transplant. Find More What happened in 1967

1900 South Africa - - The Boer War

The Boer War in South Africa was dominating the news of the day and the British had 400 soldiers captured. One British official said, "Undoubtedly the situation is serious. It resembles in many ways America's trouble with the Filipinos. We cannot expect to crush the opposition for some time."

1921 U.S.A. - - A Warless World

All over the United States members of the United Societies for Christian Endeavour were advocating a war-less world. They circulated petitions to send to President Harding so he could influence members of the disarmament meeting that was being held in Washington.

1933 France - - Gold Goes Missing

France's loss of gold was 1,160,000,000 francs or $57,200,000 in the space of a short time and its economy was based on it. Although it was not completely certain where all the gold went, some of it ended up in Britain, Holland, Switzerland, and private French citizens accounts. All the worry about gold diminished its price on the London open market.

1943 Hungary - - Concentration Camps

In Budapest more than 2,000 citizens in cafes and restaurants were arrested allegedly to "combat a wave of defeatism" a Turkish report said. Those captured were held on trumped up charges of spreading lies about what was happening in Africa and Russia. Some prisoners were released, but most went to concentration camps.

1944 Greece - - Civil War

Following the liberation of Greece by British forces from German forces a civil war breaks out in Athens as communist guerrillas battle democratic forces for control of a liberated Greece.

1957 Algeria - - Independence

France was struggling to hold Algeria and it was costing the French government $2,380,000 a day. The issue of Algerian independence was a contentious one and was debated constantly. Premier Maurice Bourges-Maunory's government fell because it was against Algeria's autonomy.

1964 U.S.A. - - Students Arrested

Police arrested some 800 students at the University of California at Berkeley, one day after the students stormed the administration building and staged a massive sit-in.

1965 U.S.A. - - Ku Klux Klansmen Convicted of Murder

An all-white jury in the southern US state of Alabama has convicted three Ku Klux Klansmen over the murder of white civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo.

1967 U.S.A. - - 20th Century Limited

The express passenger train "20th Century Limited" ends over 60 years of service when it takes its last run from New York City to Chicago.

1971 India / Pakistan - - War

Border battles between India and Pakistan erupt into full-scale war when jets from West Pakistan attack at least four Indian airports.

1974 England - - Economic Crisis

In the midst of a terrible economic crisis, the Labor government of Britain was going to slash defense budgets by $464 million initially and then up to $1.74 billion by 1980. The areas most affected would be east of the Suez.

1979 U.S.A. - - Who Concert

Eleven Who fans are killed and dozens are injured in a crush of people trying to get into the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. when thousands of fans (with first-come, first-served festival seating tickets) rush towards the locked doors when they mistook the sound check for the concert having started.

1986 China - - MBA Courses

After President Reagan's historic visit to China in 1984, an MBA course was sponsored by both Chinese and American governments. Thirty-nine Chinese students were to be become "experts in capitalism" and U.S. businesses were partnering with them. Chairman Deng Xiaoping was moving China further down the road to capitalism and industrialization.

1988 U.K. - - Salmonella in Eggs

Health minister Edwina Currie declares during a television interview "Most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now affected with salmonella," . This caused a major storm with many calling for her resignation.

1989 Malta - - Summit Ends Cold War

The leaders of the two world superpowers, the US President George Bush and Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev declare an end to the Cold War ( The Malta summit is regarded as the official end of the Cold War ).

1992 U.K. - - Manchester Bombing

Two bombs planted by the IRA explode in the centre of Manchester injuring 65 people, A telephone warning of other devices force police to evacuate the whole of the city centre causing widespread disruption.

1996 Japan - - US Soldiers

After three American soldiers sexually assaulted and kidnapped a young Okinawan girl in 1995, military changes were promised by the U.S. . One of the changes was to relocate the heliport from Futenma on Okinawa to Camp Schwah.

1997 Canada - - Anti-personnel Landmine Treaty

121 countries sign the treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel land mines in Ottawa, but the big three refuse to sign the treaty, the United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia.

1999 Space - - Mars Polar Lander

NASA loses contact with Mars Polar Lander shortly before it's planned atmospheric entry, the failure of the mission was blamed on a software error.

2002 U.S.A. - - Priests Abuse Uncovered

Thousands of personnel files released under a court order showed that the Archdiocese of Boston went to great lengths to hide priests accused of abuse, including clergy who allegedly snorted cocaine and had sex with girls aspiring to be nuns.

2006 Iran - - Missile Testing

Iran made a show of strength by testing missiles some of which could reach Israel. The tests occurred after an American-led warship did military exercises in the Persian Gulf. Iran and the West continue to be in conflict over Iran's nuclear power program.

2006 Chile - - Augusto Pinochet in Hospital

Chile's former leader, Augusto Pinochet, is reported as being in a serious condition after his heart attack. He is currently in a military hospital in Santiago, and recovering from the operation he had. He had been put under house arrest a few days before the heart attack. Medical staff have reported that he will be needing a ‘second intervention.

2007 Bali - - Climate Summit

Participants in the U.N. climate summit are discussing how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto Protocol's targets expire. Talks will center on whether a further set of targets is needed. This is the first such meeting since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (I.P.C.C.) warned that evidence for global warming was 'unequivocal.' The two- week gathering in Bali, Indonesia, will also be debating on how to help poorer nations cope in a warming world.

2007 U.S.A. - - National Intelligence Estimate on Iranian Development of Nuclear Weapons Published

The National Intelligence Estimate (N.I.E.) has judged with a high degree of confidence that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. It does, however, assess that Tehran is keeping the option to develop nuclear weapons open. There is confidence that the halt, and Tehran's announcement of its decision to suspend its declared uranium enrichment program, as well as sign an Additional Protocol to its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement, was made in response to the increasing international scrutiny and pressure on its previously undeclared nuclear work. Iran has welcomed the N.I.E. report that suggests that its government is not trying to develop nuclear weapons at this time.

2008 U.S.A. - - Congresswoman hangs up on Obama

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen assumed that she was being hoaxed when a man who purported to be Barack Obama called her. She hung up on him. The man was the President-elect, and it took him two further calls before Ms Ros- Lehtinen was convinced that the call was genuine.

2011 Burma - - Burmese President Signs Law to Allow Protests

President Thein Sein of Burma has signed a law that would allow peaceful demonstrations to take place in the country for the first time. The new law would allow people to protest as long as they asked for approval at least five days prior to the scheduled protest. The law is seen as a step forward towards democracy after the military handed over power to a civilian government earlier in 2011.

2011 United States - - Herman Cain Announces Suspension of Presidential Campaign

Republican hopeful for the US presidency, Herman Cain, announced that he was suspending his campaign after facing increased pressure on himself and his family after allegations of sexual harassment and affairs marred his campaign.

2011 Slovenia - - Pahor Wins Slovenia Presidency

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor won the country's presidential election with sixty-seven percent of the vote against the incumbent in a run-off election.

2013 U.S.A. - - Plastic Gun Ban Slovenia Presidency

A law that banned plastic guns that were undetectable in metal detectors was set to expire by the end of the year unless the US Congress passed it again. The US House passed it on November 3rd and the US Senate passed it on December 10th. The law requires all plastic guns to have at least one metal part that cannot be removed in the firing mechanism. Gun control advocates were hoping to expand the law.

Monday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

The state of local news in Colorado, mapped - Axios

When presses go silent, we all lose - Nebraska Examiner

My plea to newsroom leaders at this dangerous moment - American Crisis

Owner of Scotsman and Yorkshire Post receives buyout bid - The Guardian

Woolsey and Robinson on why local spending starts with a $2 bill - E&P Reports

Core copyright violation claim moves ahead in The Intercept’s lawsuit against OpenAI - NL

Today in Labor History December 2nd, 2024

 

A Chicago "slugger," paid $50 by labor unions for every scab he "discouraged," described his job in an interview: "Oh, there ain't nothing to it. I gets my fifty, then I goes out and finds the guy they wanna have slugged, then I gives it to ‘im" - 1911

The U.S. Senate votes 65-22 to condemn Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisc.) for “conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute.” McCarthy was a rabid anti-Communist who falsely accused thousands of Americans, mostly people who supported labor, civil rights and other progressive causes, of being traitors - 1954

(A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present: McCarthy’s attack on progressive citizens is just one of many eye-openers revealed in Zinn’s book. If your last serious read of American history was in high school—or even in a standard college course—you’ll want to read this amazing account of America as seen through the eyes of its working people, women and minorities.)

Court documents filed in Boston say Walmart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $40 million to 87,500 Massachusetts employees who claimed the retailer denied them rest and meal breaks, manipulated time cards and refused to pay overtime - 2009

Important Events From This day in History December 2

  

1969 U.S.A. - - Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 ( Often Known as Jumbo Jet ) a long-haul, wide body commercial airliner receives its FAA airworthiness certificate paving the way for its introduction into commercial service in 1970.

1942 U.S.A. - - First Nuclear Demonstration

A self sustaining nuclear chain reaction was demonstrated for the first time at a racquet court below the bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago.

1939 U.S.A. - - LaGuardia Airport

New York's LaGuardia Airport (dedicated as New York Municipal Airport) located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay is opened and from the beginning proved popular with major US Airlines including Pan American Airways, American. United, Eastern Air Lines and Transcontinental & Western Air.

1907 Canada - - Immigrant Workers

Toronto faced a throng of immigrant workers who faced poverty and starvation unless employment could be found for them. The worst off were 300 people from Bulgaria who were in danger of perishing in a matter of days. Advertisements had brought a large group of immigrants over from Europe to work on railways and in construction, but they were laid off until spring.

1927 Hawaii - - Sacred Stone Pilgrimage

Near Honolulu the faithful have been making pilgrimages to a sacred stone called the Wahiawa, which natives claim has healing powers. The site has attracted crowds of sick people and on the previous Sunday 1,200 visitors came to the site. Twenty miles out of Honolulu, the holy monolith is devotedly hung with garlands and it is rumored that bad luck follows those who scoff.

1930 U.S.A. - - Unemployment

President Herbert Hoover goes before Congress to make a plea for a $150 million public works program to work on various construction projects and help to put America back to work.

1932 Germany - - Economy

Germany's economy had not rallied despite the government's cut backs and 20 million Germans were at the point of starvation. Begging was common place, there was nation-wide unemployment, and industries were failing.

1943 U.S.A. - - Food Rationing

In early 1943 rationing of food was to take place starting with meat and then including canned foods. Each household was limited to 48 points in a ration book. Rationing had been in effect in England for a year before it took place in America.

1947 Palestine - - Jerusalem Riots

Following the vote by the United nations to create two states, one Jewish and one Arab in Palestine (1947 UN Partition Plan), riots break out in Jerusalem when the Arab Higher Committee declare a three-day strike and public protest against the United nations ruling.

1954 U.S.A. - - Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy

The US Senate votes to condemn Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R Wis., for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

1954 Cuba - - Cuban Revolution

The yacht Granma arrives on the shores of Cuba after travelling from Mexico where Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the Cuban Revolution movement disembark to begin the Cuban Revolution.

1957 Japan - - US Restrictions On Imports

Aiichiro Fujiyama, foreign minister of Japan, strenuously protested American restrictions on Japanese exports to the United States. He asserted that Japan was the biggest importer of American goods and limiting Japan's exports was "a matter of life or death" for his country.

1959 France - - Dam Collapses

The Malpasset Dam in France collapses resulting in a flood that devastates Frejus and leaves over 400 dead.

1961 Cuba - - Fidel Castro

On a national radio broadcast in Cuba Fidel Castro declares that he was a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba was to adopt Communism.

1964 U.S.A. - - Student Protesters

Students storm the administration building (Sproul Hall) on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley which protesters took over in a massive sit-in as part of the Free Speech Movement (FSM).

1967 U.K. - - Foot and Mouth

The rate of slaughter for animals affected by the Foot and mouth disease continues to increase with 134,000 animals slaughtered in the latest epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease.

1967 Egypt - - Israeli Planes Shot Down

Egyptian anti-aircraft armaments shot down two Israeli planes near Suez City. This was the first skirmish between Egypt and Israel since Israel demolished Egypt's oil refineries.

1970 U.S.A. - - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed by President Richard Nixon to protect human health and with safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land begins operation. Among other things they do are to provide and monitor the EPA fuel economy test manufacturers use to advertise the gas mileage of their vehicles.

1971 United Arab Emirates - - UAE Formed

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is formed as a federation from the seven emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain becoming one united country, which has evolved into a modern, high-income nation.

1974 England - - Birmingham Pub Bombing

Suspected IRA Terrorists plant bombs in two central Birmingham pubs, killing 19 people and injuring over 180.

1976 Cuba - - Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro becomes the President of Cuba who is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba.

1979 Pakistan - - US Embassy

A mob in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, has burned the US Embassy to the ground, killing a US marine.

1982 U.S.A. - - First Artificial Heart

Doctors at the University of Utah Medical Center performed the first implant of a permanent artificial heart in Barney Clark the artificial heart used was designed by Robert Jarvik The Jarvik-7. Barney Clark lived 112 days with the device.

1985 Switzerland - - US / USSR Meeting

After a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev end of their two-day meeting in Switzerland announcing the Geneva Accord, which commits the two countries to speeding up arms talks, working towards the abolition of chemical weapons and a new commitment to human rights.

1988 Soviet Union - - School Bus Hijack

A bus full of school children and teachers was hijacked in southern Russia. The two armed men demanded to have an airplane at their disposal. It wasn't clear what the men were armed with, however, to protect the children Russian officials gave them an Ilyushin-76 to fly to Israel in.