CalEvents:Apr/Apr 8
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for April 8
Date
Event
Significance
April 8, 1864
Senate passes the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery
On this day, the U.S. Senate passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States. This event was a crucial turning point in the fight for African-American freedom and equality, and it laid the foundation for the eventual ratification of the amendment in December 1865.
April 8, 1966
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, granted asylum in Guinea
On this day, after being ousted in a military coup, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in Pan-Africanism, was granted asylum in Guinea by President Sékou Touré. Nkrumah was made co-president of Guinea and continued his work on Pan-African unity from exile.
April 8, 1974
Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s home run record
On this day, African-American baseball player Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s long-standing record. Aaron’s achievement was significant in the context of overcoming racial barriers in American sports and symbolized African-American perseverance and excellence in the face of adversity.
April 8, 1994
U.S. evacuates citizens from Rwanda during the genocide
On this day, the U.S. government began evacuating its citizens from Rwanda as the Rwandan Genocide escalated. The evacuation reflected the international community’s delayed response to the atrocities taking place in Rwanda, which would lead to global criticism for failing to prevent the mass killings.
April 8, 2002
Robert Mugabe sworn in as President of Zimbabwe after controversial election
On this day, Robert Mugabe was sworn in as President of Zimbabwe following a highly contested election that was marred by allegations of vote-rigging and violence. Mugabe’s presidency continued to be a source of political and economic instability in the country.
April 8, 2013
Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, dies
On this day, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away. While Thatcher’s policies had a significant impact on British politics, her stance on international issues, including her opposition to sanctions against apartheid South Africa, made her a controversial figure in Pan-African history.
April 8, 2017
Protests in South Africa continue against Jacob Zuma
On this day, protests continued in South Africa demanding the resignation of President Jacob Zuma over corruption allegations. The protests were part of a larger movement to address political corruption and improve governance in South Africa.