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KIU Trivia: June 19 in the Present and the Past

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What’s Happening Today?

Juneteenth (United States of America).  Juneteenth is an unofficial American holiday and an official Texas state holiday, celebrated annually on the 19th of June in the United States to commemorate Union army general Gordon Granger announcing federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, proclaiming that all slaves in Texas were now free.

World Sickle Cell Day. It is celebrated to raise awareness about the red blood cell disorder and to raise funds to fight it.

Across the globe, supporters will participate in activities such as wearing red for sickle cell disease (SCD), sponsoring a walk or run, shaving or dying their hair, and sharing patient stories with local media outlets.

Organized by the U.K.-based Sickle Cell Society, the event also is an opportunity to support and celebrate the achievements of those with sickle cell.


What Happened Today?

1. In 1913, the Natives Land Act was implemented. The Natives Land Act of 1913 was the first major piece of segregation legislation passed by the Union Parliament. It was replaced in 1991 after the abolition of apartheid. The act decreed that whites were not allowed to buy land from natives and vice versa.

2. In 1961, Kuwait declared independence from the United Kingdom. British protection as set out in the Anglo-Kuwait agreement of 1899 was formally withdrawn and the treaty was abrogated in an exchange of letters between the ruler of Kuwait and the British Political Resident.

3. In 2012,  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange requested asylum in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for fear of extradition to the US after the publication of previously classified documents including footage of civilian killings by the US army.

Birthdays

1. In 1954, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was born.  

2. In 1978, Zoe Saldana, an American actress, famous for appearing in Avatar was born

Sources: Wikipedia & sicklecellanemianews

Picture credit: shutterstock