CalEvents:Mar/Mar 17
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for March 17
Date
Event
Significance
March 17, 1806
First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church founded in Philadelphia
On this day, Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the first independent Black denomination in the United States. The AME Church became a central institution for African-American spiritual, cultural, and political life, playing a major role in the fight for civil rights.
March 17, 1966
Kwame Nkrumah arrives in Guinea after being overthrown in Ghana
On this day, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading Pan-Africanist, arrived in Guinea after being ousted in a military coup in February. Nkrumah was made co-president of Guinea by President Sékou Touré and continued his advocacy for Pan-African unity from exile.
March 17, 1969
James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On this day, James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., pled guilty to the crime. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, marked a devastating blow to the Civil Rights Movement and had a profound impact on African-American history.
March 17, 1970
Black Panther Party members Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins acquitted of murder charges
On this day, Black Panther Party members Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins were acquitted of murder charges related to the death of a fellow party member. Their acquittal marked a significant victory for the Black Panther Party and its struggle against state repression.
March 17, 1992
South Africa holds a whites-only referendum on ending apartheid
On this day, a whites-only referendum was held in South Africa to determine whether to continue negotiations to end apartheid. The referendum passed with 68% in favor, marking a turning point in South Africa’s transition to a post-apartheid society.
March 17, 2004
Protests in Haiti against the interim government following Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s ousting
On this day, protests erupted in Haiti against the interim government that had taken power after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted in a coup. These protests reflected the deep political instability and challenges of governance in the country.
March 17, 2015
Protests in South Africa over police violence and economic inequality
On this day, protests broke out in South Africa over police violence, economic inequality, and rising tensions related to migration. The protests were part of the broader struggle for social and economic justice in post-apartheid South Africa.