On This Day - March 21st

Featured Event:

Closing of Alcatraz prison (1963) 🏢

The U.S. federal prison on San Francisco Bay's Alcatraz Island was closed this day in 1963.

Other Events:

1918: The Second Battle of the Somme began during World War I. 🪖

1980: U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States was boycotting the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 🏁

1990: After 106 years of German and South African rule, Namibia became independent. 🇳🇦

2006: Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey sent the first public tweet, which read “just setting up my twttr.” 🐦

Holidays:

Education Freedom Day 📖

Mother's Day (Arab) 🌏

World Down Syndrome Day 🗺️

Truant's Day 🇵🇱

Featured Birthdays:

1955: Jair Bolsonaro 🇧🇷 (Politician)

1958: Gary Oldman 🇬🇧 (Actor)

1962: Matthew Broderick 🇺🇸 (Actor)

1980: Ronaldinho 🇧🇷 (Football Player)

Featured Deaths:

1617: Pocahontas 🇺🇸 (Princess)

1990: Lev Yashin 🇷🇺 (Football Player)

2013: Chinua Achebe 🇳🇬 (Author)