1831day.year
Nat Turner's rebellion of enslaved Virginians is suppressed.
Nat Turner's slave rebellion in Virginia was violently suppressed on August 23, 1831.
On August 23, 1831, enslaved preacher Nat Turner led a rebellion across Southampton County, Virginia, challenging the institution of slavery.
Over two days, his followers attacked plantations, resulting in the deaths of dozens of white settlers.
Local militias and federal troops quickly mobilized, capturing Turner and quashing the uprising.
In the harsh reprisals that followed, many African Americans—both enslaved and free—were killed.
The rebellion sent shockwaves through the nation, intensifying the debate over slavery and prompting stricter laws in the South.
1831
Nat Turner's
rebellion
enslaved Virginians
1948day.year
The World Council of Churches is formed by 147 churches from 44 countries.
Global Christian denominations united to form the World Council of Churches, fostering ecumenical cooperation across national and doctrinal lines.
On August 23, 1948, 147 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and other Christian churches from 44 countries founded the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam.
The WCC was created to promote unity, joint action, and dialogue among diverse Christian traditions in the aftermath of World War II.
It sought to address global challenges such as social justice, peacebuilding, and humanitarian relief through a shared Christian witness.
Participants committed to theological consultation, inter-church cooperation, and advocacy on issues of poverty, racism, and international conflict.
Over the following decades, the Council grew to include nearly 350 member churches representing hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide.
1948
World Council of Churches
1954day.year
The Cruise of the Kings, a royal cruise organised by the Queen Consort of Greece, Frederica of Hanover, departs from Marseille, France.
Queen Consort Frederica of Greece embarked on the 'Cruise of the Kings', a lavish Mediterranean voyage intended to strengthen diplomatic and royal ties.
On August 23, 1954, Queen Consort Frederica of Greece launched the 'Cruise of the Kings' from Marseille, France, accompanied by European royalty.
The voyage invited monarchs and dignitaries on a cultural and diplomatic tour across the Mediterranean, visiting historic ports and landmarks.
Inspired by ancient 'grand tours', the cruise aimed to showcase Greek heritage and promote tourism in the region.
Guests attended gala receptions, archaeological excursions, and discussions on international cooperation among royal houses.
The event captured public imagination with its blend of pageantry, history, and high-profile networking, reflecting post-war Europe's efforts at cultural diplomacy.
Cruise of the Kings
Queen Consort of Greece
Frederica of Hanover
1970day.year
Organized by Mexican American labor union leader César Chávez, the Salad Bowl strike, the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history, begins.
Led by labor leader César Chávez, the Salad Bowl strike commenced, becoming the largest agricultural workers' labor action in U.S. history.
On August 23, 1970, the United Farm Workers, under César Chávez's leadership, initiated the Salad Bowl strike in California's Salinas and Central Valleys.
Thousands of Mexican American farm workers walked off the job to protest low wages, poor working conditions, and lack of union recognition.
The strike lasted over five years, incorporating boycotts, marches, and community organizing to pressure growers and government authorities.
It galvanized national attention on labor rights, social justice, and the plight of migrant agricultural workers.
Ultimately, the strike led to contracts improving wages, benefits, and protections, solidifying César Chávez's legacy as a civil rights icon.
1970
Mexican American
labor union
César Chávez
Salad Bowl strike
strike
1973day.year
A bank robbery gone wrong in Stockholm, Sweden, turns into a hostage crisis; over the next five days the hostages begin to sympathise with their captors, leading to the term "Stockholm syndrome".
A botched bank robbery in Stockholm led to a hostage crisis where captives began to sympathize with their captors, coining the term "Stockholm syndrome."
On August 23, 1973, two armed men attempted a bank robbery in Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm, but became trapped inside, triggering a six-day hostage standoff.
As police cordoned off the bank, the captives formed empathetic bonds with their captors and resisted rescue efforts.
This psychological phenomenon surprised experts and the public, leading to widespread study and the coining of "Stockholm syndrome."
The crisis ended on August 28 when police used tear gas to bring the situation under control without fatalities.
The incident transformed law enforcement tactics and contributed to academic research on trauma bonding and hostage negotiations.
1973
bank robbery gone wrong
Stockholm
Stockholm syndrome
1975day.year
The start of the Wave Hill walk-off by Gurindji people in Australia, lasting eight years, a landmark event in the history of Indigenous land rights in Australia, commemorated in a 1991 Paul Kelly song and an annual celebration.
The Gurindji people's Wave Hill walk-off began, a pivotal protest for Indigenous land rights in Australia that would last eight years.
On August 23, 1975, members of the Gurindji community led by Vincent Lingiari walked off the Wave Hill cattle station in Northern Territory to protest poor working conditions and land dispossession.
The strike, initially focused on labor grievances, evolved into a demand for traditional land rights and self-determination.
Over eight years, the walk-off garnered national attention, supported by unions, activists, and the wider community.
In 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam returned a symbolic handful of soil to the Gurindji, marking a milestone in land rights recognition.
The protest inspired legislation granting Indigenous Australians title to their lands and is commemorated annually and in Paul Kelly's song 'From Little Things Big Things Grow.'
1975
Wave Hill walk-off
Gurindji people
Indigenous land rights in Australia
Paul Kelly
1989day.year
Singing Revolution: Two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius–Tallinn road, holding hands.
During the Singing Revolution, two million people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed a human chain spanning 600 kilometers between Vilnius and Tallinn. This peaceful demonstration united citizens in a powerful call for independence.
On August 23, 1989, in a display known as the Baltic Way or “Singing Revolution,” approximately two million people joined hands along a 600-kilometer route from Vilnius through Riga to Tallinn. Participants sang national songs and displayed flags to protest decades of Soviet occupation. The event symbolized unity among the three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—in their struggle for sovereignty. It also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which had led to their annexation. International attention grew as photographs of the human chain circulated worldwide, putting pressure on the Soviet Union. The Baltic Way is remembered as a landmark moment in nonviolent resistance and the eventual restoration of Baltic independence.
1989
Singing Revolution
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Vilnius
Tallinn
holding hands
2013day.year
A riot at the Palmasola prison complex in Santa Cruz, Bolivia kills 31 people.
A deadly riot erupted at Bolivia's Palmasola prison, leaving thirty-one inmates dead.
On August 23, 2013, tensions erupted into a deadly riot at the Palmasola prison complex in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, one of the country's largest correctional facilities. Clashes between rival inmate groups and prison guards spiraled out of control in overcrowded wings. The violence led to fires, stabbings, and beatings, causing 31 inmates to lose their lives. Dozens more were injured before security forces regained control. The incident highlighted chronic issues of overcrowding, understaffing, and poor living conditions in Bolivian prisons. In the aftermath, officials pledged reforms to prevent future disturbances and improve inmate safety.
2013
riot
Palmasola
Santa Cruz, Bolivia