Today in history

March 16

1751
Freedom of Information Day, on the anniversary of the birth of former president James Madison, who helped draft the Bill of Rights to the US Constitution.
1827
Freedom’s Journal, first Black newspaper in the U.S. begins publishing.

1921
The War Resisters International was founded with sections set up in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. By 1939 there were 54 WRI Sections in 24 countries, including America.
Their symbol – a broken gun. Their slogan -“The right to refuse to kill.”

WRI No More War demonstration in Berlin 1922

1968
U.S. troops in South Vietnam killed an estimated 350 unarmed men, women and children in My Lai, a cluster of hamlets in the coastal lowlands of Quang Ngai Province.
Lt. William L. Calley, Jr. commanded the men of Charlie Company, First Battalion, American Division, and was the only one tried out of 80 involved in what is called the My Lai Massacre.
The Army, including a young Colin Powell, at first tried to cover it up and the media resisted reporting it.

Young girls sheltering behind their mother during My Lai
Some of Calley’s soldiers refused to participate, but only 24-year-old helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson and his crew stopped it by putting themselves between villagers and troops pursuing them.

Lt. William L. Calley……………………..Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson

2003
Over 5,000 coordinated candlelight vigils and demonstrations took place, in more than 125 countries, in a 11th hour protest against a U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Trafalgar Square, London