March 15
International Day Against Police Brutality
International Day Against Police Brutality
March 25
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (1911)
Rosa Parks is widely recognized as an icon of the Civil Rights Movement for her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955. However, her story goes beyond that one act of defiance. Prior to her arrest, Parks was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and had been trained in activism and civil disobedience. Her act of resistance was the result of years of activism and a lifetime of fighting against racial injustice and was deliberately planned as a way to challenge the discriminatory practices of segregation. Her refusal to give up her seat on that bus was the spark that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for over a year and had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
March 30
(1976) יום האדמה يوم الأرض
"אנו עם המתמודד עם טרגדיה של נישול הנמשך זה 30 שנה… הגיע הזמן שנאמר לשליטי ישראל – די!"
February 3
Umm Kulthum's death
Umm Kulthum's death on February 3, 1975 marked the end of an era for Arabic music. The Egyptian singer and actress, was a legendary figure in the Arab world and beyond. Despite facing discrimination and opposition from patriarchal forces, she paved the way for future generations of women to enter the public sphere and have a voice in their cultural and political landscape. Her music was a powerful tool for promoting resistance against colonial rule, and her influence extends beyond the borders of Egypt to the broader Arab world. Umm Kulthum was a trailblazer in the world of music and entertainment, breaking down gender barriers and establishing herself as a powerful voice for women. Her soulful voice and iconic style have made her an enduring symbol of Arabic music and culture.
February 4
Happy Birthday Rosa Parks!
Rosa Parks is widely recognized as an icon of the Civil Rights Movement for her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955. However, her story goes beyond that one act of defiance. Prior to her arrest, Parks was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and had been trained in activism and civil disobedience. Her act of resistance was the result of years of activism and a lifetime of fighting against racial injustice and was deliberately planned as a way to challenge the discriminatory practices of segregation. Her refusal to give up her seat on that bus was the spark that ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for over a year and had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
January 5
Gila Goldstein׳s death
Gila Goldstein was a prominent transgender activist in Israel who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. Gila remains an important figure in Israeli history. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations to work towards a world where everyone is free to be themselves, and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.
February 6
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is a day of awareness and advocacy aimed at ending the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world. This day, observed annually on February 6th, brings attention to the fact that FGM is a human rights violation that affects millions of women and girls worldwide. FGM is a harmful practice that has serious health consequences and can cause long-term physical and psychological trauma. The observance of this day highlights the importance gender equality, and empowering women and girls to take a stand against this oppressive practice.
February 11
Nelson Mandela released from prison
Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, after serving 27 years behind bars for his role in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The release of Mandela, who had become a symbol of the struggle against racial oppression, was a seminal moment in South African history and a major turning point in the fight against apartheid. In the years following his release, Mandela worked tirelessly to promote reconciliation and peace in South Africa, eventually becoming the country's first black president in 1994. Through his tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice, Mandela helped to bring an end to apartheid.
February 17
Isra' and Mi'raj
Isra' and Mi'raj is an event in Islamic tradition that refers to the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem, and his ascension to heaven. According to Islamic belief, the Prophet was taken on a journey by the angel Gabriel, during which he visited the seven levels of heaven and met with previous prophets such as Adam, Moses, and Jesus. The event is considered one of the most significant events in Islamic history and is celebrated annually on the 27th day of the month of Rajab in the Islamic calendar.
January 1
Novy God (Russian: Новый Год meaning "New Year")
is the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebration, observed in post-Soviet states and among Soviet expats living in other countries.
January 3
Tenth of Tevet
The tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a fast day in Judaism. The fasting is in mourning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia—an event that began on that date and ultimately culminated in the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people.
January 6
Epiphany
Epiphany is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Chil, while eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. Al-Maghtas (المغطس) the Baptism Site, is an archaeological World Heritage site in Jordan, on the east bank of the Jordan River, considered to be the original location of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The traditional Epiphany celebrations take place both in Al-Maghtas and in Qasr al-Yahud, located on the eastern side of the Jordan river, directly across Al-Maghtas. As a result of the Six-Day War in 1967, the river became the ceasefire line and both banks became militarized and inaccessible to pilgrims. Following the Israel–Jordan peace treaty in 1994 access to Al-Maghtas was restored. Qasr al-Yahud is under Israeli occupation, currently administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
January 7
Orthodox Christmas
While most Christians celebrate Christmas in December, many Orthodox Christians annually celebrate Christmas Day on January 7. In Israel, Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians celebrate on January 7th, wishing one another a “Melkam Gena!” (Merry Christmas) Amharic: መልካም ገና
January 8
The first issue of "The Revolution״ (newspaper) published (1870)
"The Revolution" was a newspaper established by women's rights activists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in New York City. It was published weekly between January 8, 1868, and February 17, 1872. With a combative style that matched its name, it primarily focused on women's rights, especially prohibiting discrimination against women's suffrage in the United States, and women's suffrage in general. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, recognizing the right of women to vote, was drafted by the newspaper's founders, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1878, and ratified in 1920.
January 12
The Lawrence textile strike
(1912)
The Lawrence textile strike (often referred to as the "Bread and Roses" strike) that took place in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912 was one of the most significant struggles in U.S. labor history due to its level of organization and collaboration across ethnic and gender lines. Thousands of largely female workers walked off the job due to a reduction in their pay; Workers maintained soup kitchens and nurseries for children and meetings were simultaneously translated into nearly 30 languages. It began when a few hundred polish women discovered that their employer had reduced their wages. They shut off their machines in the textile mills and walked out, alerting other workers by parading from mill to mill, yelling “short pay” in Polish. The strike spread rapidly through the town, growing to more than twenty thousand workers. The pay cut was just the final straw; it was preceded by years of terrible working conditions in the Lawrence textile industry. About one-third of workers in the textile mills died before the age of 25. Many lived in crowded and dangerous apartment buildings, and child mortality rates in Massachusetts were the highest in the country at the time. The phrase "Bread and Roses" originated from a speech given by American women's suffrage activist Helen Todd: "Bread for all, and roses too". It speaks to the idea that workers deserve not only bread (a metaphor for basic necessities like food and shelter) but also roses (a metaphor for beauty, culture, and the things that bring joy and fulfillment to life).
January 21
Women's March (2017)
The 2017 Women's March was a worldwide protest held on January 21, 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States. It was prompted by Trump's policy positions and misogynistic rhetoric, which protesters saw as threatening to the rights of women, people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community. Hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets in the nation’s capital. Millions more joined in sister marches across the country and around the world. According to organizers, the goal was to "send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights". Many protesters wore a "Pussyhat"; a pink, crafted hat, that created a powerful visual statement of solidarity, and allowed people who could not participate themselves a visible way to demonstrate their support for women’s rights. The name Pussyhat was chosen as a protest against vulgar comments Donald Trump made about the freedom he felt to grab women’s genitals, and to de-stigmatize the word “pussy” and transform it into one of empowerment.
January 22
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade recognized that the decision whether to continue or end a pregnancy belongs to the individual, not the government. Roe held that the right to liberty in the Constitution, which protects personal privacy, includes the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy. At the time Roe was decided in 1973, nearly all states banned abortion, except in certain limited circumstances. Under Roe, these bans were unconstitutional, making abortion legal, more accessible, and safer for many pregnant people throughout the country. While Roe’s legal implications were enormous, even Roe could not make access a reality for everyone, and low-income people, people of color, young people, and others continued to face obstacles to abortion care. In 2022, the Court overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion.
January 25
Day of Revolt (2011)
Day of Revolt marks the first day of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The date was set by various youth groups to coincide with the annual Egyptian "Police holiday" as a statement against increasing police brutality during the last few years of Hosni Mubarak's presidency. It consisted of demonstrations, marches, occupations of plazas, non-violent civil resistance, acts of civil disobedience, and strikes. Protests erupted throughout Egypt, with tens of thousands gathering in Cairo and thousands more in other Egyptian cities.
January 25
Eid El-Khidr (Druze holiday)
The Druze identify Elijah as "El-Khidr", and he is considered a prophetic figure in the Druze faith. Eid El-Khidr (the holiday of El-Khidr) is celebrated on January 25, when community members pilgrimage to Maqam al-Khidr in Kfar Yasif.
January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005. The date marks the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet forces in 1945.
January 30
Gandhi Assassinated (1948)
Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi's support for a separate Muslim state during the Partition of India in the previous year. Gandhi had been a prominent figure in the struggle for India's independence from British rule and was a vocal advocate for nonviolence, civil disobedience, and religious tolerance. He had just finished addressing an interfaith prayer meeting when he was shot three times at point-blank range. His philosophy of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and social justice has inspired numerous movements and leaders around the world.