(Historic tidbits about Ethiopia on this date on June 20) -------------------- --- Woizero Mirtsit, was believed to be of royal Abyssinian blood by being closely Jun 20, 1920 - --- Today hosts Martyrs Day in Eritrea. --- Today hosts World Refugee Day, an United Nations recognized day. Ethiopia has historically been known as a land for refuge, its most notable legacy dating back to the early days of Islam, where many adherents of the Quran found refuge from persecution in the Aksumite kingdom. --- On this date on June 20, 1941, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selaise, now restored as Emperor of Ethiopia, ordered the arrest of his own son-in-law and two powerful Ethiopian tribal chieftains for their treachery in trafficking with the Italians in their conquest and five year occupation of Selassies kingdom. Reliable information received from Addis Ababa said the three were Ras Haile Selassie Gugsa, who married the emperors daughter, Zenab Wark. Ras Seyoum. and Ras Hailu. --- On this date on June 20, 1936, the Pittsburg Press reported that President Roosevelt tonight revoked his Neutrality Proclamation which forbade export of arms and ammunitions to Italy and Ethiopia and which warned American citizens not to travel on the ships of the two belligerent nations. The President however did not recognize Italian sovereignty over the former empire of Haile Selassie, the article notes. --- On this date on June 20, 1920, the Chicago Tribune reported that two men were killed and several wounded in a riot in Chicago after a group called the Abyssinians set fire to an American flag. The group was formally known as the Star Order of Ethiopia, founded by Grover C. Redding. The Chicago Tribune said that Redding and Oscar McGavie, the alleged ring leaders in the riot, were later found guilty in the death of Robert L. Rose, a sailor at Great Lakes Navel Training Station, and sentenced to be hanged. Five other defendants were found not guilty. The Newberry Observer later reported Redding and McGarvie were the leaders of a cult which advocated the return of negroes to Abyssinia and according to testimony at the trial, told prospective members that if they returned to Abyssinia they would be given a home and land free. A parade of members of the cult was held on June 20 during which an American flag was burned. Several bystanders led by Ross attempted to interfere and two of them were shot and killed. Redding and McGavick were executed on June 24, 1921. (Source: Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America: African diaspora) --- On this date on June 20, 1908, the Baltimore Sun carried news that Menelik had named his grandson as his successor. (Photo: Ras Haile Selassie Gugsa, the son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie, was arrested shortly after the liberation of Ethiopia in 1941 for treason and and imprisoned until release by Derg officials in 1975. Ras Gugsa reportedly died in 1975.)
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 18:08:11 +0000
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