July 02

Born in 1492, Elizabeth Tudor was the younger sister of Arthur, Prince of Wales. As a royal princess, she held no formal political role and died in childhood at age three. Though her life was brief, her birth helped secure the Tudor succession. She is remembered through royal records and genealogies of the Tudor dynasty.

Medgar Evers (1925–1963) was a prominent civil rights leader and U.S. Army veteran from Mississippi. After serving in World War II, he became the first NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, organizing voter registration drives and boycotts. Evers worked tirelessly to challenge segregation laws and racial injustice in the Deep South. He faced constant threats from white supremacists and was tragically assassinated at his home in Jackson, Mississippi. His death galvanized the civil rights movement and helped spur the passage of landmark legislation.

Octavian Paler (1926–2007) was a Romanian essayist, journalist, and politician whose work explored themes of freedom and ethics. He began his career writing for leading cultural magazines before entering politics after the fall of communism. Paler served in the Romanian Parliament, advocating for democratic reforms and human rights. His books and essays are admired for their introspective style and lyrical prose. Recognized as a moral voice in post-communist Romania, his legacy endures in literary and political circles.

Sylvia Rivera was a pioneering American transgender activist who played a leading role in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. She co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and, alongside Marsha P. Johnson, the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). Rivera tirelessly advocated for inclusion and recognition of transgender people within the broader LGBTQ rights movement. She dedicated her life to fighting discrimination and providing support for marginalized LGBTQ communities. Her work laid crucial groundwork for future advances in transgender rights prior to her death in 2002.

Chris Huhne is an English journalist turned politician, elected as Member of Parliament for Eastleigh in 2005. He served in the coalition government as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, championing policies to expand renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. Before his political career, Huhne worked as a columnist and commentator for national newspapers. His tenure focused on setting ambitious climate targets and supporting the development of green technologies. Huhne's work helped shape the UK's low-carbon agenda.

Kim Carr is an Australian educator and politician who has served in the Senate since 1993. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he has held ministerial portfolios including Innovation, Industry and Science, as well as Human Services. Before entering politics, Carr worked as a teacher and school administrator. He has been influential in shaping policies on science research, technology, and social welfare. Carr continues to represent and advocate for education and community development in the Senate.

Born in 1979, Ahmed al-Ghamdi became an operative for al-Qaeda and took part in the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 175 on September 11, 2001. Alongside his co-conspirators, he diverted the aircraft and crashed it into the South Tower of the World Trade Center, resulting in catastrophic loss of life. His actions marked him as a central figure in the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil. He perished when the plane struck the tower.