This Day in History – October 12

There are 80 days left in the year. TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT 2009: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows never to allow Israeli leaders or soldiers to stand trial on war crimes charges over their actions during a military offensive in the Gaza Strip, denouncing a United Nations (UN) report in a keynote address to Parliament. Fourteen years later to the day, Israel says it will not stop the bombardment of Gaza until hostages are released, amid a growing Gaza humanitarian crisis with 338,000 displaced and the population without electricity or water.

OTHER EVENTS 1160: Maurice de Sully is elected bishop of Paris and eventually initiates a plan to build Notre Dame. 1285: Some 180 Jews burn to death as the synagogue in which they are hiding is set ablaze by a mob of Christians in retribution for the alleged crime of “blood libel”, ritualistic bloodletting from a kidnapped child, in Munich, Duchy of Upper Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire. 1517: A copy of Martin Luther’s 95 theses is created, the publication of which begins the Protestant Reformation in Europe; one year later to the day, papal envoy Cardinal Thomas Cajetan interrogates Luther in Augsburg, in a failed attempt to persuade him to revoke his theses.

1773: America’s first asylum opens for persons of insane and disordered minds in Virginia. 1815: Ex-King of Naples Joachim Murat is sentenced to death for treason. 1822: The Empire of Brazil is inaugurated; Prince Pedro of Portugal is proclaimed Emperor Dom Pedro I on his 24th birthday.

1859: Self-proclaimed “Emperor of the USA”, Emperor Norton issues an edict abolishing the US Congress. 1860: British & French troops capture Beijing. 1871: US President Grant condemns the Ku Klux Klan.

1892: The US Pledge of Allegiance is first recited in public schools during Columbus Day. 1901: Theodore Roosevelt renames the “Executive Mansion” as “The White House”; 14 years later to the day he criticises US citizens who identify themselves with dual nationalities. 1918: The Cloquet fire kills 453 and injures or displaces 52,000 people.

1931: The Christ the Redeemer statue opens; built by engineer Heitor da Silva Costa it stands 30 metres high (98 feet), atop Mount Corcovado, and overlooks Rio de Janeiro. 1933: Alcatraz unofficially becomes a federal prison. 1956: The United Kingdom (UK) tells Israel the British will assist Jordan if Israel attacks tha…