Historical Events on June 12 You Probably Did Not Know
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While June 12 is known as Democracy Day in Nigeria, there are other interesting facts and historical events associated with this date that are worth knowing.
Below are some historical events that occured on June 12
1. 1898: The Philippines declared independence from Spain, ending over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule.
2. 1964: Nelson Mandela, a lawyer and human rights activist, was sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa during the Rivonia Trial for acts of sabotage against the apartheid regime. Mandela remained imprisoned until 1990 and later became South Africa's first black president. During the Trial, Nelson Mandela delivered a powerful statement to the court before he was sentenced. One of the most famous excerpts from his speech is:
"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." This speech remains one of the most powerful and enduring declarations of Mandela's commitment to justice, equality, and human rights.
3. 1982: A massive anti-nuclear protest was held in Central Park, New York City, with hundreds of thousands rallying against nuclear weapons and for disarmament. It was one of the largest protests in American history.
4. 1991: Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia in the first presidential election held in the country, defeating Communist Party candidate Nikolai Ryzhkov.
5. 1993: Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won what is widely regarded as Nigeria's freest and fairest presidential election. However, the military regime led by General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the results, leading to significant political unrest. June 12 was later declared Democracy Day in Nigeria in 2018 to honor the struggle for democracy and Abiola's central role in it.
6. 1994: Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered, leading to a highly publicized trial with O.J. Simpson as the primary suspect.