Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology
Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.
Compiled by Ulli Diemer
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May 17, 1954
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The United States Supreme Court rules unanimously that segregation of Negro children in public schools is unconstitutional.
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May 17, 1962
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Thousands of American marines are sent to Thailand to ‘protect’ it against Communism.
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May 17, 1968
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In a protest against the U.S. war against Vietnam, nine Roman Catholic peace activists enter a draft board office in Catonsville, Maryland, seize draft files, take them out to the parking lot, and set them on fire. The nine are charged with destroying government property, convicted, and sentenced to jail. The court rejects their arguments that they were obeying a higher moral law.
One of the nine, Father Daniel Berrigan, writes a play about the trial afterwards called The Trial of the Catonsville Nine.
The actions of the Nine inspire a considerable number of similar actions to destroy draft files.
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