TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT Sept. 23, 1955

A jury in Sumner, Miss., acquitted two white men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, of murdering Black teenager Emmett Till. (The two men later admitted to the crime in an interview with Look magazine.)

ON THIS DATE 1952

Sen. Richard M. Nixon, R-Calif., salvaged his vice presidential nomination by appearing on television from Los Angeles to refute allegations of improper campaign fundraising in what became known as the “Checkers” speech.

1957

Nine Black students who’d entered Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas were forced to withdraw because of a white mob outside.

2002

Gov. Gray Davis signed a law making California the first state to offer workers paid family leave.