May 4, 1886 Chicago, Illinois The Haymarket Affair begins as a peaceful protest that escalates into a full riot The rally began as a both demonstration demanding an 8-hour work day (the standard at the time was 10-hour work days, 6-day work weeks) as well as protest against police shooting union workers the day before.…
The Kent State shooting
May 4, 1970 Kent, Ohio The Ohio National Guard fires into a crowd of unarmed students at Kent State University The students had been protesting the Cambodian Campaign which President Nixon had announced a few days before. The University attempted to halt the protest before it began by handing out flyers indicating the event had…
Man kills 4, including a child, for $16
From the Chicago Daily Tribune Published May 4, 1907 A man detailed the murders of 4 people in a strikingly calm manner. He described impersonating a detective to recruit 2 brothers before leading them into the woods to shoot them and steal the contents of their pockets. He then took their wagon back to their…
Eighth grader shoots teachers after being reprimanded (1956)
May 4, 1956 Seat Pleasant, Maryland 14-year-old Billy Ray Prevatte shoots three teachers, killing one Prevatte had a history of violence in school, including previously being expelled for threatening a teacher with a knife. His gym teacher had instructed Prevatte to write “I will keep quiet in gym class” 100 times after causing a distraction…
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