May 12

On May 12, 1364, King Casimir III the Great officially founded the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. It became the second oldest university in Central Europe, following Charles University in Prague. Modeled on the University of Bologna, it offered studies in liberal arts, law, medicine, and theology. Over centuries, it educated renowned scholars like Nicolaus Copernicus. The university played a crucial role in the intellectual and cultural development of Poland. Today, it remains a leading center of research and higher education.

On May 12, 1551, the Spanish Crown established the National University of San Marcos in Lima. It became the first institution of higher learning in the New World. The university initially taught theology, law, medicine, and the arts. It played a central role in educating colonial administrators and clergy. Its alumni influenced Latin American politics, culture, and intellectual life. Today, San Marcos remains a prestigious university with a rich academic tradition.

Organized by the Trades Union Congress to support coal miners facing wage cuts and longer working hours, the strike began on May 3, 1926. Workers across transport, printing, and other key industries ceased work, bringing many public services to a halt. The British government mobilized volunteers and emergency measures to maintain essential supplies. As shortages grew and public support waned, the TUC voted to call off the strike on May 12 without securing miners’ demands. Although miners continued to battle independently, the episode exposed deep class tensions and influenced future labor legislation in interwar Britain.

In May 2006, a satirical cartoon published in an Iranian magazine was interpreted as an insult to the Azeri minority, igniting street protests that quickly turned violent. Demonstrators in major cities, including Tabriz and Tehran, clashed with security forces, burning banks and government offices. The unrest reflected long-standing ethnic tensions between Persian authorities and the Azeri community. Iranian officials struggled to quell the riots, deploying riot police and imposing media blackouts. The events highlighted challenges of minority rights and freedom of expression within Iran. In the aftermath, several protesters were arrested, and debates over cultural sensitivity and censorship intensified.

On May 12, 2008, ICE agents raided a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, in the largest workplace immigration enforcement action in U.S. history. Agents arrested almost 400 workers on charges of identity theft and document fraud. The raid shut down the plant, sending shockwaves through the local economy and the tight-knit immigrant community. Families were torn apart as parents were detained, and dozens of children were temporarily left without caregivers. The event sparked nationwide debate over immigration policy, enforcement methods, and workers' rights. Legal battles and community efforts subsequently sought to reunite families and address systemic flaws in the immigration system.