Today is Thursday, May 15, 2025, marking the 135th day of the year with 230 days remaining. On this day in history, a tragic incident occurred in 1970 at Jackson State College in Mississippi, where two Black students lost their lives and 12 others were injured when police opened fire during student demonstrations, less than two weeks after the shooting at Kent State University.
In addition, on May 15, 1800, President John Adams issued an order for government offices to move from Philadelphia to the newly established city of Washington, D.C. The year 1862 saw President Abraham Lincoln signing an act to establish the Department of Agriculture, while in 1928, the beloved Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse made his first public appearance in a test screening of the short film “Plane Crazy.”
Fast forward to 1940, when the first McDonald’s fast-food restaurant was opened by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. In 1967, a landmark decision was made by the U.S. Supreme Court in the In re Gault case, granting juveniles accused of crimes the same due process rights as adults.
Moving to more recent history, in 1972, Alabama Governor George C. Wallace was shot and left paralyzed while campaigning for president in Laurel, Maryland, by Arthur H. Bremer. Meanwhile, in 2015, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that resulted in three fatalities and over 260 injuries.
In 2020, amidst the global pandemic, President Donald Trump introduced the “Operation Warp Speed” program, aimed at accelerating the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the nation.
Celebrating birthdays on this day are notable individuals such as artist Jasper Johns (95), counterculture icon Wavy Gravy (89), actor-singer Lainie Kazan (85), basketball Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson (85), musician Brian Eno (77), actor Chazz Palminteri (73), baseball Hall of Famer George Brett (72), rapper Melle Mel (64), baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz (58), football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (56) and Ray Lewis (50), actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler (44), and tennis player Andy Murray (38).
These significant events and birthdays remind us of the rich tapestry of history and the diverse talents that contribute to our world.
