March 27

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1884day.year

A mob in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States attacks members of a jury which had returned a verdict of manslaughter in what was seen as a clear case of murder; over the next few days the mob would riot and burn down the courthouse.

On March 27, 1884, a mob in Cincinnati, Ohio attacked jurors who had delivered a verdict of manslaughter in a clear murder case. The unrest escalated over subsequent days into a full riot, ending with the courthouse burned to the ground.
The incident began when a jury acquitted a local man of murder, convicting him instead of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Outraged citizens viewed the verdict as a miscarriage of justice and descended on the Hamilton County courthouse on March 27, 1884. The mob assaulted jurors at home and in the streets, sparking violent clashes with police and bystanders. Over the course of several days, the rioters set fires that engulfed the courthouse and damaged surrounding buildings. The violence prompted the deployment of the Ohio National Guard to restore order. In its aftermath, legal and civic leaders called for reforms to the justice system and improved security measures. The episode remains one of the most dramatic examples of nineteenth-century civil unrest in the American Midwest.
1884 Cincinnati, Ohio manslaughter murder riot and burn down the courthouse
1981day.year

The Solidarity movement in Poland stages a warning strike, in which at least 12 million Poles walk off their jobs for four hours.

Poland's Solidarity movement stages a massive four-hour warning strike with at least 12 million workers walking off the job. The action highlights widespread support for political and economic reform.
By early 1981, Solidarity had emerged as a powerful independent trade union challenging communist authority in Poland. On March 27, the movement called for a symbolic four-hour warning strike to pressure the government for dialogue. Across factories and public institutions, an estimated 12 million Poles participated in the walkout. The unprecedented scale of the strike demonstrated Solidarity's broad appeal and organizational strength. The protest forced the regime to consider limited concessions under growing international scrutiny. Though full-scale negotiations were delayed, the action marked a turning point in Poland's push for democracy. Solidarity would later play a central role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.
1981 Solidarity warning strike