February 5, White separatist convicted of murdering civil rights leader 31 years later
Today is Thursday, February 5, the 36th day of the year 2026. There are 329 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On February 5, 1994, white separatist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in Jackson, Mississippi, of the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963 and was sentenced to life in prison.
Also on this date:
In 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, a law that significantly reduced Asian immigration and mandated literacy testing of immigrants.
In 1918, more than 200 people were killed during World War I when the Cunard liner SS Tuscania, carrying more than 2,000 American troops to Europe, was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland.
In 1971, Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell walked on the surface of the Moon in the first of two lunar excursions.
In 1973, services were held at Arlington National Cemetery for U.S. Army Colonel William B. Nolde, the last official American combat casualty of the Vietnam War before the ceasefire took effect.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, granting workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in the event of a family emergency.
In 2008, 87 tornadoes struck across nine states, killing 57 people in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama in 12 hours. An Arkansas tornado caused 122 miles of damage on the ground.
In 2017, Tom Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, highlighted by a spectacular catch by Julian Edelman that helped New England go from a 25-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to the Patriots’ fifth Super Bowl victory, 34-28; it was the first Super Bowl to end in overtime.
In 2020, the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial. Most senators expressed discomfort with Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine that led to impeachment, but only one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, broke party ranks and voted to convict. In 2021, the Senate acquitted Trump in a second trial for allegedly inciting the violent siege of the Capitol on January 6.
In 2023, Beyoncé won her 32nd Grammy to become the most decorated artist in the history of this award.
Today’s birthdays:
- Tony-winning playwright John Guare is 88 years old.
- Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach is 84 years old.
- Director Michael Mann is 83 years old.
- Racing Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is 79 years old.
- Actress Barbara Hershey is 78 years old.
- Actor-comedian Tim Meadows is 65 years old.
- Actor Jennifer Jason Leigh is 64 years old.
- Rock musician Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) is 62 years old.
- Golf Hall of Famer Jose Maria Olazabal is 60 years old.
- Actor-comedian Chris Parnell is 59 years old.
- Actor Michael Sheen is 57 years old.
- Country singer Sara Evans is 55 years old.
- Actor-singer Darren Criss is 39 years old.
- Actor Henry Golding is 39 years old.
- Football star Neymar is 34 years old.
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