Sunnis end boycott of Iraqi constitution committee News
Sunnis end boycott of Iraqi constitution committee

[JURIST] Sunni Arabs ended their boycott of the Iraqi constitution committee [JURIST news archive] on Monday, rejoining the process after walking out last Wednesday [JURIST report] to protest the July 19 assassinations [JURIST report] of two Sunni committee members and a committee advisor in Baghdad. Their protest included demands for an international investigation into the killings, better security, and and an increased role in discussions about the constitution. It was not clear what concerns were examined, but a Sunni committee member said they had been assured their complaints would be addressed. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

USSR established

On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.