Welcome to another Friday, May 2, 2025, the 122nd day of the year with 243 days still ahead.
A Glimpse into History:
On this day in 1994, Nelson Mandela celebrated victory following South Africa’s inaugural democratic elections.
Other Notable Events:
In 1863, Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was accidentally wounded by his own soldiers during the Civil War at Chancellorsville, Virginia, leading to his death eight days later.
In 1927, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Buck v. Bell, upheld a Virginia law allowing forced sterilization for the “health of the patient and welfare of society.”
In 1972, a tragic fire at the Sunshine silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho, claimed the lives of 91 miners due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
In 1997, Tony Blair became Britain’s youngest prime minister in 185 years at the age of 43 after his Labour Party defeated the long-reigning Conservatives under John Major.
In 2011, Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, was buried at sea after being killed in a raid by American forces at his compound in Pakistan.
In 2017, former police officer Michael Slager pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges for the killing of Walter Scott, an unarmed Black man, in Charleston, South Carolina.
In 2018, attorney Rudy Giuliani disclosed that President Donald Trump had reimbursed his personal lawyer for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, contradicting Trump’s prior claims.
In 2022, a draft of a Supreme Court ruling emerged overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision, a landmark ruling that had stood for 50 years.
Celebrity Birthdays Today:
- Engelbert Humperdinck, Singer – 89
- David Suchet, Actor – 79
- Peter Welch, D-Vt., Senator – 78
- Larry Gatlin, Singer-songwriter – 77
- Lou Gramm, Rock singer (Foreigner) – 75
- Christine Baranski, Actor – 73
- Jamaal Wilkes, Basketball Hall of Famer – 72
- Donatella Versace, Fashion designer – 70
- Stephen Daldry, Filmmaker – 65
- Ty Herndon, Country singer – 63
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Actor-wrestler – 53
- David Beckham, Former soccer player – 50
- Kumail Nanjiani, Actor – 47
- Ellie Kemper, Actor – 45
- Lily Allen, Singer – 40
- Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver – 40
- Sarah Hughes, Olympic figure skating gold medalist – 40
- Lucy Dacus, Musician – 30
- Princess Charlotte of Wales – 10
