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Malcolm X (assasination)
Malcolm X was an african american leader of the Civil Rights movement. Without the help and success of him, who knows if we would be this far in the movement. Malcolm X was shot and killed at a rally by black opponents. -
Voting Rights Act Approved
This gave African Americans the right to vote. Not only did this give African Americans the right to vote but Africans Americans started to be elected to various leadership positions. -
MLK assasinated
Martin Luther King was assasinated on April 4th, 1968. This day was extremely significant because he was a huge role in the African American civil rights movement. He stood up for what he thought was right and many things that helped in the African American civil rights movement was because of him. He was shot and killed and riots started in 125 cities around the world. -
Furman vs. Georgia
William Henry Furman was caught stealing from a home when he tried to escape. While trying to escape, he accidently fired his weapon, killing a resident in the house. They decided not to give Furman the death penalty because they saw it as cruel and unusual punishment. -
Gregg v. Georgia
Troy Gregg was found guilty of armed robbery and murder and was sentenced to death by the jury in Georgia. Gregg tried to challenge his last death penalty at the US Supreme Court but he was rejected and was still sentenced to the death penalty. -
Coker v. Georgia
While serving sentences for rape, murder, kidnapping and assault, Erlich Coker escaped a Georgia prison. After escaping, he broke into, raped, kidnapped and stole the car of a female resident. After being caught, the state of Georgia sentenced him to death but that was over ruled by the US Supreme Court because they said "death is an excesive penalty for rape." -
Los Angeles Riots
These riots broke out in LA after the beating of Rodney King. 600 buildings were torched, 50 people were killed and over 1 billion dollars worth of damage was recorded. -
Atkins v. Virginia
Daryl Atkins and his accomplice, William Jones, were convicted for murder. Although Atkins was considered "Mildly mentally retarded," the US Supreme Court reversed the Virginia Supreme Courts judgement on the grounds that judgments of state legislatures regarding punishment of the mentally retarded had become more lenient since Penry v. Lynaugh in 1989. -
Roper v Simmons
At the age of 17, Simmons committed a capital murder but was not sentenced to death until he was 18. He soon argued that since he was 17 when he committed the crime, he could not be sentenced to death. The Supreme Court held in favor of Simmons saying that he cannot be sentenced to death because he was 17 when he committed the crime. -
Kennedy vs. Louisiana
Louisiana for the aggravated rape of his then 8 year-old stepdaughter. The final verdict came back and it was a 5-4 vote in favor of not giving him the death penalty because they said giving him the death penalty would be unconsitional for rape.
