Today in history

January 10

1773
Thomas Paine published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense.”

1908
A prominent young lawyer, Mohandas Gandhi, is jailed for the first time, for refusing to register as an Asian in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He is released on January 30, 1908.

Gandhi, 1906

1917
The White House is picketed for the first time, in support of Women’s sufferage.

1920
Versailles Treaty, establishing League of Nations

1940
Members of the Brethren, Mennonites and Friends religious groups, sent a message to President Roosevelt requestingalternative service in event of war. The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 proclaimed that all persons who “by reason of religious training and belief were conscientiously opposed to all forms of military service, should, if conscripted for service, be assigned to work of national importance under civilian direction.”

Men at a Civilian Public Service camp.

1946
The first General Assembly of the United Nations convened at Westminster Central Hall in London, England and included 51 nations. On January 24th, the General Assembly adopted its first resolution, a measure calling for the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction.

1971
The Peoples’ Peace Treaty between the peoples of U.S. and Vietnam was endorsed by 130 organizations.
The treaty was signed in December 1970 by leaders from the South Vietnam National Student Union, South Vietnam Liberation Student Union, North Vietnam Student Union, and National Student Associations in Saigon, Hanoi and Paris. The treaty was adopted by New University Conference and Chicago Movement meeting,
January 8-10, 1971.
Later, several million North Americans signed it.

Peoples’ Peace Treaty organizers

1966
Vernon Dahmer, a wealthy businessman in Hattiesburg, Miss., offered to pay poll taxes for those who couldn’t afford the fee required to vote. The night after a radio station broadcasted Dahmer’s offer, his home was firebombed. Dahmer died later from severe burns.
1994
Guatemalan officials and leftist guerilla movement agree to negotiate to end 30 years of violent conflict.