A filibuster lasting 24 hours and 18 minutes was conducted on August 28–29, 1957, by Democratic U.S. senator Strom Thurmond (pictured), intended to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He read the election laws of each U.S. state, Supreme Court decisions, and George Washington's Farewell Address. The bill's power to protect the voting rights of African Americans had already been significantly watered down by Senate Democrats, but Thurmond saw the bill as "cruel and unusual punishment" and felt more intervention was needed. In filibustering the bill, Thurmond went against a prior agreement among Senate Democrats and therefore received backlash from some members of his own party in addition to the disapproval of Republicans. Despite this, the filibuster was wildly popular among citizens of the South. The filibuster ultimately failed to change any votes in the Senate and the bill was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower less than two weeks later.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond_filibuster_of_the_Civil_Rights_Act_of_1957

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1842:

Under the Treaty of Nanking, an "unequal treaty" that ended the First Opium War, the Chinese island from which Hong Kong would grow was ceded to Britain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong

1903:

Slava, the last of five Borodino-class battleships, was launched by the Imperial Russian Navy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_battleship_Slava

1984:

Followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh began deliberately infecting people in The Dalles, Oregon, with Salmonella in the first and largest bioterrorist attack in United States history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Rajneeshee_bioterror_attack

1996:

Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crashed on approach to Svalbard Airport, Norway, killing all 141 on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vnukovo_Airlines_Flight_2801

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

espy: 1. (transitive) 2. To find out or observe (someone or something, especially if not easy to see) by spying or looking; to catch sight of; to see; to spot. 3. To see (someone or something) without foreplanning or unexpectedly. 4. (obsolete) 5. To observe (someone) as a spy; also, to examine or observe (someone or something) carefully; or to look out or watch for. 6. To become aware of (a fact, information, etc.). 7. (intransitive, archaic) To observe as a spy, to spy; also, to examine or observe carefully; or to look out or watch. 8. (countable) 9. An act of finding out or observing by spying or looking; an espial or espying. 10. A scout or spy. 11. (uncountable) The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means; espionage. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/espy

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

We’re going back to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation. While maintaining American leadership in exploration, we will build a global alliance and explore deep space for the benefit of all. … All that we build, all that we study, all that we do, prepares us to go. … OUR SUCCESS WILL CHANGE THE WORLD   --NASA https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/NASA