Today in History: October 16, Black men gather for the Million Man March

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 16, the 290th time of 2024. There are 76 days near successful the year.

Today successful history:

On Oct. 16, 1995, the Million Man March, a gathering of Black men meant to foster unity successful the look of economical and societal issues affecting African Americans, was held successful Washington D.C.

Also connected this date:

In 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was calved successful Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1793, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded.

In 1859, extremist abolitionist John Brown led a raid connected the U.S. arsenal astatine Harpers Ferry successful what was past a portion of occidental Virginia. (Ten of Brown’s men were killed and 5 escaped. Brown and six followers were captured; each were executed.)

In 1934, Chinese Communists, nether siege by the Nationalists, began their “long march” lasting a twelvemonth from southeastern to northwestern China.

In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis began arsenic President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the beingness of atomic rocket bases successful Cuba.

In 1964, China acceptable disconnected its archetypal atomic bomb, codenamed “596,” connected the Lop Nur Test Ground.

In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked contention astatine the Mexico City Olympics by giving “Black power” salutes during a triumph ceremonial aft they had won golden and bronze medals successful the 200-meter race.

In 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (voy-TEE’-wah) to beryllium the caller pope; helium took the sanction John Paul II.

In 1984, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was named victor of the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of non-violent conflict for radical equality successful South Africa.

In 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure was pulled from an abandoned good successful Midland, Texas, aft being stuck determination for much than 2 days. The efforts to rescue “Baby Jessica” captured the attraction of the nation.

In 1991, a gunman opened occurrence astatine a Luby’s Cafeteria successful Killeen, Texas, sidesplitting 23 radical earlier taking his ain life.

In 2017, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been captured and held by the Taliban for 5 years aft walking distant from his station successful Afghanistan, pleaded blameworthy to desertion and endangering his comrades.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Fernanda Montenegro is 95.
• Actor Barry Corbin is 84.
• Musician Bob Weir is 77.
• Actor-director Tim Robbins is 66.
• Rock instrumentalist Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 62.
• Filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan is 62.
• Actor Terri J. Vaughn is 55.
• Singer John Mayer is 47.
• Former WNBA constituent defender Sue Bird is 44.
• Actor Caterina Scorsone is 43.
• Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is 32.
• Tennis subordinate Naomi Osaka is 27.