July 21

On July 21, 1645, Dorgon, the regent of the newly established Qing dynasty, decreed that all Han Chinese men must shave their foreheads and braid their hair into the Manchu-style queue. The edict served as a political tool to unify the diverse populations of China under Qing rule and visibly mark loyalty to the new regime. Failure to comply was punishable by death, making the hairstyle a forced symbol of submission and authority. The decree profoundly altered social traditions, as hairstyle was closely tied to Confucian ideals of filial piety and bodily respect. Resistance was met with harsh reprisals, but over time the queue became a ubiquitous feature of Qing society until its abolition in the early twentieth century. This mandate illustrates the Qing dynasty's methods of consolidating power through cultural and legal transformations.

On 21 July 1877, after nine Baltimore & Ohio Railroad strikers were killed by Maryland militia, B&O employees in Pittsburgh walked off the job in solidarity. The mass walkout disrupted coal and steel shipments vital to local industry. City authorities deployed Pennsylvania state militia units to suppress the strike and reopen rail lines. Clashes between armed troops and protesting workers erupted in the streets, resulting in injuries on both sides. The violent response highlighted the government’s readiness to use force against labor unrest. Although the strike failed to secure immediate wage concessions, it marked a turning point for America’s labor movement. The events in Pittsburgh foreshadowed future union organizing and labor rights campaigns.

On July 21, 1920, sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland exploded into what became known as the Belfast Pogrom. Protestants targeted Catholic employees in the city's shipyards, factories, and linen mills, forcing them out of their jobs. Over the next two years, violence and intimidation displaced thousands of families and deepened the divide between communities. The mass expulsions galvanized political activism and international concern over civil rights in Ireland. This period of unrest contributed to the broader conflict surrounding Irish independence and partition. The legacy of the pogrom remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of sectarian strife.

Beginning on July 21, 1964, Singapore experienced a series of racial riots mainly between ethnic Malay and Chinese communities. The unrest was triggered by political tensions and inflammatory remarks during the Malaysia Solidarity Week. Over the following six weeks, violence spread across neighborhoods, public spaces, and places of worship. Twenty-three people lost their lives and more than 450 were injured as the government imposed curfews and deployed security forces. The riots exposed deep ethnic divides and led to reforms in housing policies to promote racial integration. Singapore's leaders used the crisis to strengthen multiracial identity and implement strict measures against racial incitement. The 1964 riots remain a pivotal moment in Singapore's nation-building efforts and its approach to communal harmony.

On the evening of July 21, 2019, armed members of the rural triads brutally attacked passengers in Yuen Long MTR station. Civilians returning from anti-extradition protests were targeted with sticks and rods, resulting in multiple injuries. Critics accused police of a delayed response, exacerbating public outrage and deepening distrust in law enforcement. The violent episode became a flashpoint in the broader 2019–2020 Hong Kong protest movement. Dubbed the '721 incident', it highlighted fears of collusion between organized crime and authorities. Yuen Long remains emblematic of the city's social divisions and ongoing struggle for democratic reforms.