Thousands protest in support of Mexico City mayor as vote looms News
Thousands protest in support of Mexico City mayor as vote looms

[JURIST] Tens of thousands on Thursday protested in Mexico City in support of popular Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [official profile in Spanish], who announced his presidential candidacy this morning, but could be barred from running by an expected congressional vote later today that would remove his legal immunity. Lopez Obrador faces contempt of court charges from a judicial order in 2001 to halt work on a road to a hospital that ran across a plot of disputed property. Supporters of Lopez Obrador argue that the congressional vote, which is expected to go against the mayor, has been pushed forward by President Vicente Fox to eliminate Lopez Obrador from the presidential race. Fox was elected in 2000 in the first truly democratic elections in Mexico [JURIST news archive], which had been ruled by one party for 71 years before that. Notimex has local coverage [in Spanish] from Mexico. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.