Mind Uncharted Explore. Discover. Learn.
Today in History: March 25
Today is Saturday, March 25, the 84th day of 2023. There are 281 days left in the year.
The “Scottsboro Boys” Case
On March 25, 1931, nine young Black men were taken off a train in Alabama, accused of raping two white women; after years of convictions, death sentences and imprisonment, the nine were eventually vindicated.
English Colonists Arrive in Maryland
In 1634, English colonists sent by Lord Baltimore arrived in present-day Maryland.
“Army” of Unemployed Demands Help from Federal Government
In 1894, Jacob S. Coxey began leading an “army” of unemployed from Massillon (MA’-sih-luhn), Ohio, to Washington D.C., to demand help from the federal government.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Fire
In 1911, 146 people, mostly young female immigrants, were killed when fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York.
The USS F-4 Sinks Off Hawaii
In 1915, the U.S. Navy lost its first commissioned submarine as the USS F-4 sank off Hawaii, claiming the lives of all 21 crew members.
Coal-Dust Explosion in Illinois Claims 111 Lives
In 1947, a coal-dust explosion inside the Centralia Coal Co. Mine No. 5 in Washington County, Illinois, claimed 111 lives; 31 men survived.
RCA Begins Producing Color Television Sets
In 1954, RCA announced it had begun producing color television sets at its plant in Bloomington, Indiana.
Ray Charles Records “Georgia on My Mind”
In 1960, Ray Charles recorded “Georgia on My Mind” as part of his “The Genius Hits the Road” album in New York.
Civil Rights March in Alabama
In 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 people to the Alabama state capitol in Montgomery after a five-day march from Selma to protest the denial of voting rights to Blacks. Later that day, civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, a white Detroit homemaker, was shot and killed by Ku Klux Klansmen.
Supreme Court Ruling on Promoting Women
In 1987, the Supreme Court, in Johnson v. Transportation Agency, ruled 6-3 that an employer could promote a woman over an arguably more-qualified man to help get women into higher-ranking jobs.
Deadly Fire at an Illegal Social Club in New York City
In 1990, 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants, were killed when fire raced through an illegal social club in New York City. (An arsonist set the fire after being thrown out of the club following an argument with his girlfriend; Julio Gonzalez died in prison in 2016.)
Anti-Government Freemen Standoff Begins
In 1996, an 81-day standoff by the anti-government Freemen began at a ranch near Jordan, Montana.
One Year Ago Today
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced his intention to support the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court, pushing her one step closer to confirmation. Sheriff’s officials in Florida said a 14-year-old boy fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando amusement park. New Orleans’ school board unanimously reversed a little known but century-old ban on jazz.
Birthdays
Film critic Gene Shalit is 97. Former astronaut James Lovell is 95. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 89. Singer Anita Bryant is 83. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 80. Singer Sir Elton John is 76. Actor Bonnie Bedelia is 75. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 70. Actor James McDaniel is 65. Movie producer Amy Pascal is 65. Rock musician Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) is 63. Actor Brenda Strong is 63. Actor Fred Goss is 62. Actor-writer-director John Stockwell is 62. Actor Marcia Cross is 61. Author Kate DiCamillo is 59. Actor Lisa Gay Hamilton is 59. Actor Sarah Jessica Parker is 58. Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine is 57. TV personality Ben Mankiewicz is 56. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Debi Thomas is 56. Actor Laz Alonso is 52. Singer Melanie Blatt (All Saints) is 48. Actor Domenick Lombardozzi is 47. Actor Lee Pace is 44. Actor Sean Faris is 41. Comedian-actor Alex Moffat (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 41. Former auto racer Danica Patrick is 41. Actor-singer Katharine McPhee is 39. Comedian-actor Chris Redd (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 38. Singer Jason Castro is 36. Rapper Big Sean is 35. Rap DJ-producer Ryan Lewis is 35. Actor Matthew Beard is 34. Actor-singer Aly (AKA Alyson) Michalka (mish-AL’-kah) is 34. Actor Kiowa Gordon is 33. Actor Seychelle Gabriel is 32.
