Today in history

January 14

1601
Church authorities burn Hebrew books in Rome.

1784
The United States Congress ratified a peace treaty known as the Treaty of Paris with England ending the Revolutionary War.

By its terms, “His Britannic Majesty” is bound to withdraw his armies without “carrying away any Negroes or other property of American inhabitants.”

signing the Treaty of Paris

1892
Martin Niemoller, German Minister imprisoned for many years by the Nazis, born

1875
Birth of Albert Schweitzer in Kaysersberg, Alsace-Lorraine, Germany.

1878
US Supreme Court rules unconstitutional any state law requiring railroads to provide equal accommodations for passengers, regardless of race or color.

1918
U.S. Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of the selective service law, affirms all criminal charges arising from non-compliance with the draft.

1941
A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters & chief spokesperson for the African American working class, calls for a March on Washington, demanding racial integration of the military & equal access to defense-industry jobs.

1942
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation No. 2537, which required aliens from World War II enemy countries –

Italy, Germany and Japan – to register with the United States Department of Justice.

Registered persons received a “Certificate of Identification for Aliens of Enemy Nationality.” This proclamation facilitated the beginning of full-scale internment of Japanese Americans the following month.

1963
George Wallace sworn in as Governor of Alabama; his address states “segregation now; segregation tomorrow; segregation forever!”.

1966
March on Atlanta to protest ouster of Julian Bond, African American pacifist, from Georgia House of Representatives, after his endorsement of SNCC statement critical of US involvement in Vietnam.

1994
Peace accords signed to dismantle Ukraine’s nuclear weapons & take U.S. & Russian missiles off Ukrainian targets.