February 23

In February 1763, tensions on the Berbice plantations reached a breaking point as enslaved men and women rebelled against brutal working conditions and harsh punishments. Led by an enslaved man named Coffy, the uprising quickly spread across multiple estates, forcing Dutch planters to seek help from neighboring colonies. The rebels established control over a significant portion of the colony and negotiated terms that threatened the colonial order. Dutch authorities responded by sending troops and British reinforcements to retake control by mid-year. The revolt was eventually crushed with heavy loss of life and brutal reprisals against survivors. Despite its failure, the Berbice uprising became a powerful symbol of resistance and inspired future anti-slavery movements. It highlighted the desire for freedom and the unsustainable nature of plantation slavery in the Americas.

On February 23, 1905, Chicago attorney Paul Harris and three local businessmen gathered for lunch with a shared vision of promoting friendship and service. They founded the Rotary Club, which aimed to develop community service projects and foster professional networking. The organization quickly expanded beyond Chicago, inspiring similar clubs across the United States and around the world. Rotary became a pioneer in international service, addressing issues like health, education, and peace. Today, Rotary International unites over a million members in more than 200 countries to advance goodwill and humanitarian efforts.

On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was out for a jog in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick, Georgia, when he was pursued by three white residents in a truck. The confrontation escalated into gunfire, and Arbery was fatally wounded in front of bystanders. The slow pace of the initial investigation and lack of arrests sparked widespread outrage and became a catalyst for the racial justice movement in the United States. Video footage released weeks later ignited protests and renewed debates over vigilantism and systemic racism. Federal and state authorities eventually charged the suspects with murder and hate crimes. Arbery’s death contributed to the passage of new hate crime legislation in Georgia and intensified calls for criminal justice reform.