UPDATE ~ Mexican presidential hopeful will surrender to authorities News
UPDATE ~ Mexican presidential hopeful will surrender to authorities

[JURIST] Following up a story reported Friday on JURIST's Paper Chase, Mexico City mayor and presidential hopeful Manuel Lopez Obrador [World Mayor profile] announced to reporters outside of his home Saturday that he will surrender to authorities as soon as an arrest warrant is issued. Late Thursday, Mexico's Congress striped the mayor of immunity so he could be charged with contempt of court related to his alleged involvement in a land expropriation dispute. Obrador's leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution [official website in Spanish] is expected to organize massive rallies and disrupt Congressional proceedings in protest. An arrest warrant could be issued as early as Monday. Obrador's has vowed to continue his campaign for president from jail. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.