Today in history

May 8

1828
U.S. Peace Society founded.
1838
Founding of Chartist movement for British workers’ rights.
1882
The American Peace Society was established when the peace societies of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania merged to become a national organization. Based in Boston, the merger was a result of a suggestion by William Ladd. Read more.

1933
Mohandas Gandhi began a 31-day fast to support political rights for the Dalit (or untouchables) whom he called Harijans, the children of God. He had been jailed by the British to interfere with his movement to end their colonial control of India.

1962
An estimated 9,000,000 people in Belgium participated in a ten-minute work stoppage to protest nuclear weapons.
1962
The Department of Justice orders court action to halt racial segregation in hospitals built with federal funds.
1971
Nguyen Thi Co immolates herself in protest of Vietnam War.