Martin Luther King Stoned by Angry Mob
On August 5, 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. planned a march in Marquette Park, Chicago, to demand equal property sales to everyone regardless of race. About 700 white protesters who were against the protest attacked him and his supporters, throwing bricks, bottles, and rocks, one of which hit King leaving him seriously affected and confused for some minutes. His aides had to rush to help him as he tried to regain consciousness.
Image credit: Time
Albert Raby, head of Chicago's Coordinating Council of Community Organizations, was also struck. Despite over 1,000 police officers present, many others were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. King noted the deep-seated hatred he encountered which he had not experienced elsewhere but announced that the protests would continue, sharing new dates with his supporters.
Nelson Mandela arrested
Also on this day in 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested at a roadblock near Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. Earlier that year, he had left South Africa for military training and to gather support for the ANC's newly formed armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe. Upon his return via Botswana, he was arrested, tried, and sentenced to five years in prison for incitement and leaving the country illegally.
Mandela began serving his sentence at Pretoria Local Prison with the prisoner number 19476/62. After spending time in various prisons, he was released in February 1990.
Other key events on this day
1. Popular actress, Marilyn Monroe found dead in her apartment - 1962
2. British and French made accord to divide Africa and continue its colonization - 1890
3. Martial law imposed in Japan - 1882
4. Obama signed The Iron Dome Bill providing $225 million in additional funding for Israel's Iron Dome defense - 2014
5. Uganda President, Idi Amin threw out all 80,000 Asians - 1972
6. Opposition party, AAC declared protests across Nigeria August 5 - 2019
7. Russia countered sanctions by the U.S. and the European Union by banning all imports of dairy, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables - 2014
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