Here are a few examples:
1. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, led to a city-wide boycott of the bus system. This event was a significant catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
2. The Birmingham Campaign (1963): The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) led a series of nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama. The violent response from local authorities and white supremacists, widely broadcasted on national television, galvanized public opinion and led to increased support for civil rights legislation.
3. The Stonewall Riots (1969): A police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, led to days of protests and was a catalyst for the gay rights movement.
4. The Rodney King Beating and Los Angeles Riots (1991-1992): The brutal beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers, and the subsequent acquittal of the officers, sparked widespread riots and led to a national conversation about police brutality and racial injustice.
5. The Murder of George Floyd (2020): The killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer led to global protests against police brutality, systemic racism, and criminal justice reform. The Black Lives Matter movement, which had been active since 2013, gained significant momentum and visibility as a result.
What these events have in common is that they all involve instances of systemic injustice or violence that were brought to light in a way that captured public attention. They all sparked widespread outrage and led to organized efforts to bring about social change. They also all involved marginalized or oppressed groups standing up against the systems of power that were oppressing them.