This day in history

Today is Tuesday, June 6, the 157th day of 2023. There are 208 days left in the year.

Birthdays: Singer-songwriter Gary “U.S.” Bonds is 84. Country singer Joe Stampley is 80. Jazz musician Monty Alexander is 79. Actor Robert Englund is 76. Folk singer Holly Near is 74. Tennis Hall of Famer Bjorn Borg is 67. Actor Amanda Pays is 64. Comedian Colin Quinn is 64. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 64. Rock guitarist Steve Vai is 63. Actor Jason Isaacs is 60. Actor Anthony Starke is 60. Actor Sonya Walger is 49. Former actor Staci Keanan is 48. Jazz singer Somi is 47. Actor Amber Borycki is 40

► In 1855, Captain Absalom Boston died. The beloved captain of Nantucket had led an allblack crew on the whale ship Industry before helping to integrate schools on Nantucket.

► In 1912, Novarupta, a volcano on the Alaska peninsula, began a three-day eruption, sending ash as high as 100,000 feet; it was the most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century and ranks among the largest in recorded history.

► In 1939, the first Little League baseball game was played as Lundy Lumber defeated Lycoming Dairy 23-8 in Williamsport, Pa.

► In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on “D-Day” as they began the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.

► In 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, 25 1/2 hours after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

► In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country. (The Israelis withdrew in June 1985.)

► In 1989, burial services were held for Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

► In 2001, Democrats assumed control of the US Senate after the decision of Vermont Republican James Jeffords to become an independent.

► In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that people who smoked marijuana because their doctors recommended it to ease pain could be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws.

► In 2020, tens of thousands rallied in cities from Australia to Europe to honor George Floyd and voice support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Massive, peaceful protests took place nationwide to demand police reform.

► Last year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote, securing enough support from his Conservative Party to remain in office despite a substantial rebellion that left him a weakened leader with an uncertain future. (Johnson would resign on July 7.) The former top leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group and other members were charged with seditious conspiracy for what federal prosecutors said was a coordinated attack on the US Capitol to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.