February 23

In February 1974, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a radical left-wing group in the United States, intensified the high-profile kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst. The SLA issued a new demand, requesting an additional $4 million in food distribution to impoverished families, as outlined in their manifesto. This development came nearly two months after her abduction in Oakland, California. The group used the case to promote its ideological goals and sought to exploit media attention. Patty Hearst’s eventual participation in bakery robberies under duress complicated public perception of victim and perpetrator. Law enforcement agencies struggled to negotiate, while the SLA’s tactics fueled nationwide fascination. The incident remains one of the most controversial examples of domestic political extremism.

During the early hours of February 23, 2021, four prisons in Ecuador simultaneously experienced deadly riots. Overcrowding, gang rivalries, and inadequate resources fueled the violence, leading to at least 62 inmate fatalities. Security forces struggled to regain control, deploying reinforcements to contain the unrest across multiple facilities. The unrest marked one of the deadliest prison uprisings in Ecuador's history, drawing national and international attention. In the aftermath, authorities launched investigations into prison conditions and management failures. Civil rights groups called for urgent reforms to address systemic issues such as overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and lack of rehabilitation programs. The tragedy prompted the government to propose new measures aimed at improving inmate safety and reducing recidivism.