CalEvents:Mar/Mar 23
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for March 23
Date
Event
Significance
March 23, 1873
Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico
On this day, the Spanish government officially abolished slavery in Puerto Rico. This marked a significant moment in the broader abolition of slavery in the Americas, affecting African descendants and the African diaspora in the Caribbean.
March 23, 1966
Martin Luther King Jr. meets with President Lyndon B. Johnson
On this day, Martin Luther King Jr. met with U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson to discuss issues of poverty and civil rights. The meeting helped solidify federal support for anti-poverty initiatives and set the stage for broader social reforms in the U.S.
March 23, 1982
South African military forces invade Angola
On this day, South African military forces launched a large-scale invasion of Angola as part of the South African Border War. The conflict was part of a broader regional struggle for liberation and control in southern Africa, particularly involving Namibia and apartheid South Africa.
March 23, 1994
Nelson Mandela elected as South Africa’s first Black president
On this day, Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first Black president in the country's first multiracial elections. This marked the official end of apartheid and a new era of democracy in South Africa.
March 23, 1998
President Bill Clinton visits Rwanda
On this day, U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Rwanda, marking the first time a U.S. president visited the country since the 1994 genocide. Clinton's visit was seen as an acknowledgment of the international community's failure to prevent the genocide and a moment of reconciliation.
March 23, 2002
End of the Angolan Civil War
On this day, the Angolan government and UNITA rebels agreed to a ceasefire, ending the Angolan Civil War, which had lasted for nearly 27 years. The war had been one of the longest and most devastating conflicts in Africa’s post-colonial history.
March 23, 2019
Protests continue in Sudan against President Omar al-Bashir
On this day, mass protests against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir intensified. These protests were part of a broader uprising that eventually led to al-Bashir’s removal from power in April 2019, marking a pivotal moment in Sudanese political history.