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Rodney King
Rodney King was an African American man who was pulled over by police after a car chase. Once he was pulled over King refused to comply with officers and this led to them tasing and beating King. The four officers involved would later be charged with excessive force and all four would end up being acquitted. After this ruling, this would lead to the worst race riots ever seen in America.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/police-brutality-caught-on-video -
World Trade Center Bombing
On February 26 the World Trade Center has a bomb go off from inside a van in the garage of the Trade Center killing 6 people and injuring over 1000 people. This would be down by the terrorist group Al- Queda this was an attempt to collapse the World Trade Center from the bottom and after this failed it would lead to Al- Queda decided to take it down from the top which would later become 9/11.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-trade-center-bombed -
Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19, 1995, a truck filled with explosives went off outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which ended up killing 168 people and injuring hundreds of more people. The man behind the bombing was Timothy McVeigh who was very anti-government which is what led him to blow up a federal building.
https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/oklahoma-city-bombing -
OJ Simpson Murder Trial
The OJ Simpson murder trial is probably the biggest news story about a celebrity ever after former NFL star OJ Simpson was found guilty of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. Millions tuned in for his now infamous Ford Bronco police chase and they all stayed to watch his trial where he very controversially was acquitted of the crimes charged against him. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/o-j-simpson-acquitted -
Bill Clinton Impeachment
Bill Clinton would be impeached on the counts of lying under oath and obstruction of justice that stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton. He also denied having any relationship with an intern Monica Lewinsky which was found to be false. Clinton became the 2nd president ever impeached but he would be acquitted on both charges allowing him to remain in office. ("Kruse and Zelizer, 224-227") -
Columbine Shooting
On April 20th, 1999, two students of Columbine High School in Colorado began opening fire on other students and faculty members killing 13 people and wounding 20 others. This was at the time the deadliest school shooting and opened the eyes of many when it came to safety inside schools and began the huge debate of today on gun control.
https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/columbine-high-school-shootings -
9/11
On September 11, 2001, four planes would be hijacked were two of them flew into the World Trade Center another flew into the Pentagon, and the last plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the people on board the flight rushed the cabin and tried to take back control of the plane from the hijackers. Nearly 3000 people were killed on this day and this led to the war on terror. Many people on the sight of the attacks still deal with health issues caused by the attack today. -
Death of Saddam Hussein
The leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by an Iraqi judge for the crimes he had committed against his own people. He would use violence, torture, unlawful detention, and many more examples on his own people. The US also was threatened that he had the use of nuclear weapons. ("Kruse and Zelizer, 266-268") -
Obama Elected President
Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate would defeat Republican candidate John McCain to become the first African American to be elected president. He would go on to serve two terms.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/barack-obama-elected-as-americas-first-black-president -
Haiti Earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude Earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, destroying more than 300,000 buildings in the country and killing nearly 50,000 people. The earthquake still affects some of the people in Haiti to this day.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massive-earthquake-strikes-haiti#:~:text=On%20January%2012%2C%202010%2C%20Haiti,%2C%201770%2C%201842%20and%201946.