What Happened Today in History on July 27

The Chicago race riot of 1919 begins. It was ignited after a young Black man was stoned and drowned in Lake Michigan for swimming in an area reserved for whites. it was a violent racial conflict between white Americans and black Americans that lasted eight days. During the riot, 38 people died, 537 were injured and between 1,000 and 2,000 residents, most of them black, lost their homes. The riot is considered the worst of the scores of riots and civil disturbances across the United States during the "Red Summer" of 1919. More

The First test flight of the De Havilland DH 106 Comet, takes place. Developed and manufactured by De Havilland in the United Kingdom, went on to become the world's first commercial passenger jet aircraft to reach production and was commercially promising at its debut in 1952. Within a year, three Comets were lost after suffering catastrophic mishaps mid-flight. As a result, the Comet was extensively redesigned, with structural reinforcements and other changes. More

The Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice by U.S. and North Korean delegates at Panmunjom, Korea and establishing a demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. It brought to an end three years of fighting that killed 2.5 million people. No peace treaty was signed. More

Trinidad coup attempt - More than 100 members of the Islamist radical group, Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, stormed Trinidad and Tobago parliament and a TV station holding all inside hostage, including the prime minister ANR Robinson for several days as violence and looting erupted in the capital. A state of emergency was imposed but when the rebellion was over much of Port of Spain had been burned and destroyed. Twenty-four people died, including an MP, Leo Des Vignes - and many more were injured. More

Terrorist attack at the Atlanta Olympics - A pipe bomb explodes in the Olympic Centennial Park in Atlanta, Georgia. One person was killed and 111 injured. The attack was the first of four bombings committed by Eric Rudolph during his domestic terrorist campaign against the U.S. government which he accused of championing "the ideals of global socialism" and "abortion on demand". Rudolf went on to commit three more bombings in 1997 and 1998. For five years. He was listed as one of the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives for five years until he was caught in 2003. In 2005 he agreed to plead guilty to avoid a potential death sentence. Rudolph was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for his crimes. More