1607day.year
Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded.
English settlers establish Jamestown in 1607 as their first enduring colony in North America.
Sponsored by the Virginia Company, a group of English colonists landed on the shores of Virginia and founded Jamestown. Facing harsh conditions, disease, and tense relations with Indigenous peoples, the settlers struggled to survive their first years. The colony's eventual success with tobacco cultivation ensured its economic viability. Jamestown became a foothold for English expansion and a symbol of the New World's promise and perils. Its legacy endures as the starting point of the United States' colonial history.
1607
Jamestown
North America
1738day.year
John Wesley is converted, essentially launching the Methodist movement; the day is celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day and a church service is generally held on the preceding Sunday.
John Wesley's spiritual conversion in 1738 ignited the Methodist movement, commemorated annually as Aldersgate Day.
On May 24, 1738, Anglican priest John Wesley experienced a profound spiritual awakening during a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. This event ignited the Methodist revival, emphasizing personal faith, holiness, and social outreach. Wesley's new movement soon attracted followers across Britain and its colonies, promoting organized societies, small groups, and lay preaching. The Methodist emphasis on disciplined personal piety and social justice led to reforms in education, prison conditions, and slavery abolition. Today, Methodists worldwide celebrate Aldersgate Day with worship services that recall the transformative power of Wesley's conversion. The legacy of this moment continues to shape Protestantism, with over 80 million adherents in various Methodist, Wesleyan, and holiness traditions.
1738
John Wesley
converted
Methodist movement
Methodists
Aldersgate Day
1873day.year
Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States.
Patrick Francis Healy became the first black president of a predominantly white US university, breaking barriers in higher education.
In 1873, Patrick Francis Healy was appointed president of Georgetown University, marking a historic first in American academia. Born to an Irish immigrant mother and an enslaved African-descended father, Healy overcame racial obstacles to earn advanced degrees. As president, he expanded the university’s curriculum and improved its financial standing, guiding growth and modernization. Healy promoted academic excellence and infrastructure development, championing the institution’s prestige. His leadership during Reconstruction challenged prevailing racial norms and paved the way for future diversity in higher education. Healy’s life and work continue to inspire discussions about race, leadership, and equality in American universities.
1873
Patrick Francis Healy
1961day.year
American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for "disturbing the peace" after disembarking from their bus.
Freedom Riders challenging segregation on interstate buses are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, sparking widespread civil rights activism and national attention.
On May 24, 1961, civil rights activists known as Freedom Riders arrived in Jackson, Mississippi, to protest segregated bus facilities.
Shortly after disembarking, they were arrested for 'disturbing the peace' under local segregation laws.
The arrests galvanized public opinion and drew support from national civil rights organizations and the Kennedy administration.
These events intensified efforts to challenge segregation and enforce Supreme Court rulings on interstate travel.
The Jackson arrests became a pivotal moment in the broader Freedom Rides campaign and the American civil rights movement.
1961
American civil rights movement
Freedom Riders
Jackson, Mississippi
1988day.year
Section 28 of the United Kingdom's Local Government Act 1988, a controversial amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, is enacted.
Section 28 of the UK's Local Government Act, banning the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities, was enacted on May 24, 1988.
On May 24, 1988, the British Parliament introduced Section 28 as part of the Local Government Act.
The amendment prohibited local councils from intentionally promoting homosexuality or publishing related educational materials.
Advocates argued it would uphold traditional moral values, while critics saw it as discriminatory and harmful to LGBTQ+ youth.
The law sparked widespread protests, cultural debates, and became a focal point for gay rights activism throughout the 1990s.
Section 28 was eventually repealed in Scotland in 2000 and in the rest of the UK by 2003, leaving a lasting legacy on discussions of equality.
1988
Section 28
Local Government Act 1988
local authority
homosexuality
1991day.year
Israel conducts Operation Solomon, evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
Israel's Operation Solomon airlifted thousands of Ethiopian Jews to safety on May 24, 1991.
On May 24, 1991, Israel launched Operation Solomon to evacuate Ethiopian Jews facing famine and civil war.
In a 36-hour airlift, over 14,000 men, women, and children were flown to Israel aboard 34 aircraft.
The operation was carried out under a secret agreement with the collapsing Ethiopian government.
It represented one of the largest covert airlift rescues in history and underscored Israel's commitment to the Jewish diaspora.
The arrival of the Ethiopian Jewish community had a profound impact on Israeli society and multicultural integration policies.
1991
Israel
Operation Solomon
Ethiopian
2014day.year
At least three people are killed in a shooting at Brussels' Jewish Museum of Belgium.
On May 24, 2014, a gunman opens fire at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels, killing three people. The attack was widely condemned as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The assailant entered the museum during working hours and shot several visitors at close range. Two women and a man lost their lives, while others were injured or traumatized. Investigators explored potential links to extremist organizations but later determined the suspect acted alone. The attack prompted Belgium to bolster security around Jewish institutions and communities. International leaders expressed solidarity and condemned the violence, calling for stronger measures against anti-Semitism. Commemorative vigils were held across Europe, highlighting growing concerns about religiously motivated violence. The incident remains a stark reminder of the need for vigilance against hate-driven crimes.
shooting
Jewish Museum of Belgium
2022day.year
A mass shooting occurs at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States, resulting in the deaths of 21 people, including 19 children.
On May 24, 2022, a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, kills 21 people, including 19 children. The tragedy sparks national debates on gun control and school safety.
An 18-year-old gunman entered the school in the late morning, opening fire in classrooms. Law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire, but response time and tactics faced intense scrutiny. It was the deadliest school shooting in the United States since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. Communities across Texas and the nation mourned the victims and rallied to support grieving families. Policymakers and advocacy groups renewed calls for stricter gun legislation and enhanced security measures. The shooting prompted investigations into law enforcement protocols and communication failures. Memorials and fundraisers were organized to honor the lives lost and assist survivors. The Uvalde shooting remains a stark example of the ongoing crisis of gun violence in American schools.
2022
mass shooting
Uvalde, Texas
2025day.year
Argo Ericko Achfandi, a student at Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University, was killed after being struck by BMW car driven by Christianto Pangarapenta Pengidahen Tarigan, an international undergraduate program student at Faculty of Economic and Business at the same university, and has become viral with #JusticeForArgo hashtags on X (formerly Twitter).
On May 24, 2025, law student Argo Ericko Achfandi is fatally struck by a BMW at Gadjah Mada University. The incident sparks a viral #JusticeForArgo campaign demanding accountability and reforms.
Argo Ericko Achfandi, a law student at the Faculty of Law, was crossing campus when a BMW driven by a fellow student collided with him. Witnesses reported reckless driving, and the driver remained at the scene, leading to public outcry. Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with the hashtag #JusticeForArgo, calling for a fair investigation and legal action. University leaders and local authorities faced pressure to ensure transparency in the case. The incident fueled broader debates in Indonesia about road safety, privilege, and the accountability of social elites. Protesters organized demonstrations demanding stronger traffic regulations and campus safety measures. The case continues to dominate news cycles as supporters await judicial proceedings.
Gadjah Mada University
was killed
X