1930 – Barbara C. Harris Is Born
Barbara Clementine Harris, born on June 12, 1930 in Philadelphia, rose from a career in public relations to become the first woman bishop in the worldwide Anglican Church in 1989. A passionate Episcopalian and civil rights activist, she marched in Selma with Dr. King and challenged gender discrimination within the church.
As bishop of Eastern Massachusetts, Harris championed justice, diversity, and inclusion. Even after retiring in 2002, she remained active in ministry until her passing in 2020 at age 89.
1963 – Medgar Wiley Evers Is Assassinated
Medgar Evers, a WWII veteran and civil rights leader, served as Mississippi’s NAACP Field Secretary until his assassination on June 12, 1963. He organized boycotts, investigated racial violence, and supported James Meredith’s integration of the University of Mississippi.
His 1954 attempt to desegregate the University of Mississippi drew national attention. After his murder, his brother Charles continued his work. Evers’s legacy endures in Mississippi’s transformed political and educational landscape. His killer was finally convicted in 1994.
1967 – Race Riot in Ohio Mobilized the National Guard
On June 12, 1967, unrest erupted in Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood following protests over the disputed conviction of Posteal Laskey Jr., a Black man accused of being the “Cincinnati Strangler.” Tensions rose further when his cousin was arrested near the Lincoln statue.
The riots spread citywide, involving looting, firebombing, and clashes with police. One person died, 404 were arrested, and damages reached $3 million. It was part of the nationwide “Long, Hot Summer” of 1967.
