TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Friday, June 17, the 168th day of 2022.
Today’s highlight in history
On June 17, 2015, nine people were shot to death in a historic Black church in Charleston, S.C.; suspect Dylann Roof was arrested the following morning. (Roof was convicted of federal hate crimes and sentenced to death; he later pleaded guilty to state murder charges and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.)
On this date
In 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill resulted in a costly victory for the British, who suffered heavy losses.
In 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor aboard the French ship Isere.
In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed the SmootHawley Tariff Act, which boosted U.S. tariffs to historically high levels, prompting foreign retaliation.
In 1963, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Abington (Pa.) School District v. Schempp, struck down, 8-1, rules requiring the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer or reading of Biblical verses in public schools.
In 1967, China successfully tested its first thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon’s eventual downfall began with the arrest of five burglars inside the Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C.’s Watergate complex.
In 1994, after leading police on a slow-speed chase on Southern California freeways, O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder in the slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ronald Goldman. (Simpson was later acquitted in a criminal trial but held liable in a civil trial.)
In 2008, hundreds of samesex couples got married across California on the first full day that gay marriage became legal by order of the state’s highest court.
In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that states can’t demand proof of citizenship from people registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so.
In 2019, Iran announced that it was breaking compliance with the international accord that kept it from making nuclear weapons; the announcement meant that Iran could soon start to enrich uranium to just a step away from weapons-grade levels. The Trump administration followed Iran’s announcement by ordering 1,000 more troops to the Middle East.
In 2020, prosecutors in Atlanta brought murder charges against White police officer Garrett Rolfe in the fatal shooting of a Black man, Rayshard Brooks, following a struggle; a second officer,
Devin Brosnan, was charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath. (Both officers are awaiting trial.) Quaker Oats announced that it would retire the Aunt Jemima brand, saying the company recognized that the character’s origins were “based on a racial stereotype.” Ten years ago: Rodney King, 47, died in Rialto in an apparent accidental drowning.
One year ago: President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery; Juneteenth, or June 19, would be the 12th federal holiday.
Today’s birthdays
Actor Peter Lupus is 90. Director Ken Loach is 86. Singer Barry Manilow is 79. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is 79. Comedian Joe Piscopo is 71. Actor Mark Linn-Baker is 68. Actor Jon Gries is 65. Singer Jello Biafra is 64. Director-writer Bobby Farrelly is 64. Actor Thomas Haden Church is 62. Actor Greg Kinnear is 59. Actor Kami Cotler (“The Waltons”) is 57. Olympic gold medal speed skater Dan Jansen is 57. Actor Jason Patric is 56. Actorcomedian Will Forte is 52. Singer Paulina Rubio is 51. Tennis player Venus Williams is 42. Rapper Kendrick Lamar is 35. Actor KJ Apa is 25.