August 19

Events - Society & Lifestyle

1612day.year

The "Samlesbury witches", three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury, England, are put on trial, accused of practicing witchcraft, one of the most famous witch trials in British history.

Three women from Samlesbury were tried for witchcraft before a packed Lancashire court, in one of England’s most sensational early modern trials.
On August 19, 1612, three women from Samlesbury village faced a sensational witchcraft trial in Lancashire. Accusations included dancing with the Devil and harming neighbors' children, reflecting deep-seated anxieties about magic. Held in a packed courtroom, evidence ranged from bizarre confessions to dubious testimonies. The defendants were ultimately acquitted, exposing flaws in witchcraft prosecutions. The Samlesbury trial captured nationwide attention and influenced public perceptions of witchcraft. Historians view it as a turning point in the decline of witch hunts in England.
1612 Samlesbury witches Lancashire Samlesbury England witchcraft witch trials
1989day.year

Several hundred East Germans cross the frontier between Hungary and Austria during the Pan-European Picnic, part of the events that began the process of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

During the Pan-European Picnic, hundreds of East Germans crossed into Austria, foreshadowing the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
On August 19, 1989, organizers of the Pan-European Picnic orchestrated a symbolic opening of the border fence between Hungary and Austria near Sopron. Hundreds of East German tourists seized the opportunity to flee to Austria, overwhelming border guards who stood down rather than fire on civilians. This peaceful, grassroots event demonstrated the weakening control of Eastern Bloc regimes and inspired further defections. News of the cross-border exodus spread quickly, encouraging more East Germans to seek freedom and rally against their government. The Picnic is remembered as a pivotal moment that accelerated the collapse of the Iron Curtain and preluded the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
East Germans Pan-European Picnic Fall of the Berlin Wall
1991day.year

Crown Heights riot begins.

The Crown Heights riot began, sparking violent clashes between Black and Jewish residents in Brooklyn.
On August 19, 1991, tensions flared in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood after a car accident involving a rabbi’s motorcade resulted in the death of a young Black child. Rumors and allegations of preferential treatment ignited days of violent confrontations between the African American and Hasidic Jewish communities. Protesters clashed with police, and incidents of looting and property damage occurred amid heightened fear and anger. The New York City government deployed additional officers to restore order, but the riots exposed deep-seated racial divides and mistrust. In the riot’s wake, commissions were formed to investigate causes and recommend reforms for policing and community relations. The Crown Heights unrest remains a significant episode in the history of urban racial strife in America.
Crown Heights riot