April 22

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1889day.year

At noon, thousands rush to claim land in the Land Rush of 1889. Within hours the cities of Oklahoma City and Guthrie are formed with populations of at least 10,000.

The Land Rush of 1889 saw thousands of settlers race into Oklahoma Territory at noon to claim homesteads, instantly founding Oklahoma City and Guthrie.
On April 22, 1889, the U.S. government opened two million acres of unassigned land in Oklahoma Territory for settlement. At the sound of a gunshot at noon, an estimated 50,000 people charged into the territory to stake their claims. Within hours, boomtowns such as Oklahoma City and Guthrie sprang up, each with populations exceeding 10,000. The Land Rush exemplified the excitement and chaos of frontier expansion under the Homestead Act. Its dramatic impact reshaped the Great Plains and influenced American settlement patterns.
1889 Land Rush of 1889 Oklahoma City Guthrie
1970day.year

Chicano residents in San Diego, California occupy a site under the Coronado Bridge, leading to the creation of Chicano Park.

Chicano residents occupied land under the Coronado Bridge, leading to the creation of Chicano Park.
On April 22, 1970, Chicano activists in San Diego occupied land beneath the Coronado Bridge to protest urban neglect. Their six-day standoff with authorities drew attention to a lack of community resources in Barrio Logan. The occupation ended when the city agreed to transform the site into a cultural park celebrating Chicano heritage. Murals by local artists now adorn the bridge supports, making Chicano Park a vibrant symbol of social justice. The park remains a testament to grassroots activism and the power of community organizing.
San Diego, California Coronado Bridge Chicano Park
1993day.year

Eighteen-year-old Stephen Lawrence is murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Well Hall, Eltham.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Eltham.
On the night of April 22, 1993, 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence was fatally stabbed in a racially motivated attack in Well Hall, Eltham. His death exposed deep-seated institutional racism and failures in the police investigation. The case became a landmark for reform, leading to the Macpherson Report and changes in UK policing. Despite initial setbacks, persistent campaigning by Stephen’s family brought some perpetrators to justice years later. The tragedy remains a poignant reminder of the fight against racism and for equal justice.
1993 Stephen Lawrence Well Hall Eltham