October 14th, 2008

Today in History

1967:
Vietnam War: Folk singer Joan Baez is arrested in a blockade of the military induction center in Oakland, California.

1949:
Eleven leaders of the U.S. Communist Party are convicted, after a nine-month trial, of conspiring to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. Ten defendants are sentenced to 5 years in prison each, and the eleventh to 3 years. The Supreme Court upheld the convictions on June 4, 1951.

1916:
Sophomore tackle and guard Paul Robeson is excluded from the Rutgers football team when Washington and Lee Universities refuse to play against a black person.

1834:
In Philadelphia, Whigs and Democrats stage a gun, stone and brick battle for control of a Moyamensing Township election, resulting in one death, several injuries, and the burning down of a block of buildings.

1582:
Due to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.