Historical Events tagged with "ponce"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Natural Disasters

Mameyes Landslide Claims Nearly 200 Lives

October 7th, 1985 39 years ago

In a devastating landslide in the Mameyes neighborhood of Ponce, Puerto Rico, almost 200 people lost their lives. Heavy rains triggered the landslide, causing a hillside to collapse onto homes, crushing them under tons of mud and debris. Rescue operations were launched immediately, yet the scale of the disaster hindered efforts. The event brought significant attention to the geophysical risks faced by communities in this region.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Police Shoot Unarmed Civilians in Ponce

March 21st, 1937 87 years ago

In Ponce, Puerto Rico, police opened fire on a peaceful parade, resulting in 19 unarmed civilians being killed. This act of violence was allegedly ordered by Blanton Winship, the U.S.-appointed Governor. The incident occurred during a demonstration advocating for Puerto Rican independence, highlighting the tension between local nationalists and the colonial government.

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