| April 27, 1936 The UAW (United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America), gained autonomy from the AFL (American Federation of Labor), becoming the first democratic, independent labor union concerned with the rights of unskilled and semi-skilled laborers. |
| April 27, 1937 The Social Security Administration began operation by making its first payment to an American protected under the law, principally the elderly, and children who’ve lost their parents. |
| April 27, 1942 Sixteen pacifists, including Evan Thomas and A.J. Muste, refused to register for the World War II draft. Muste was a Quaker activist, founder of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and author of two pamphlets that same year, War is the Enemy and Wage Peace Now.  A.J. Muste still working for peace 25 years later with Dorothy Day, leader of the Catholic Worker movement. Read about War is the Enemy |
| April 27, 1974 Ten thousand marched in Washington, D.C., calling for impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon. |
| April 27, 1987 Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia, was blockaded by people protesting U.S. policies in Central America and Southern Africa. 700 were arrested. |
| April 27, 1989 Thousands of Chinese students took to the streets in Beijing to protest government policies and issued a call for greater democracy in the communist People’s Republic of China. The protests grew until the Chinese government ruthlessly suppressed them in June during what came to be known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Ignoring government warnings of violent suppression of any mass demonstration, students from more than 40 universities began a march to Tiananmen this day.  The students were joined by workers, intellectuals, and civil servants and, by mid-May, more than a million people filled the square. |
April 27, 1994 Nelson Mandela casting his first vote South Africa held its first multiracial elections and chose anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela (with more than 62% of the vote) to head a new coalition government that included his African National Congress Party. More on that historic election |
https://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistoryapril.htm#april27
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