American Civil Liberties Union founded

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded on January 19, 1920 by a group of civil rights activists and lawyers. The group’s founders included Helen Keller, labor activist Elizabeth Gurley-Flynn and future Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. The organization would be involved in the Scopes Monkey Trial and the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education.

Learn more about the history of the American Civil Liberties Union.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment

On October 6, 1991, law professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, turning his nomination hearings into a national spectacle. Thomas was approved by a full Senate vote of 52-48 on October 15. Read an excerpted version of Hill's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 11.

Egypt President Anwar Sadat assassinated

On October 6, 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by militants in retaliation for signing a peace treaty with Israel.