Today in History

June 3, 2022 Updated Mon., June 6, 2022 at 4:28 p.m.

FILE – Bill Cosby arrives for a sentencing hearing following his sexual assault conviction at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown Pa., on Sept. 25, 2018. With jury selection less than a week away, attorneys scrambled to deal with shifting evidence Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cosby’s civil trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl at the Playboy mansion nearly 50 years ago. (Matt Rourke)

‘D-Day’ invasion

On June 6, 1944, during World War II, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on “D-Day” as they began the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe.

Largest eruption of the 20th century

In 1912, Novarupta, a volcano on the Alaska peninsula, began a three-day eruption, sending ash as high as 100,000 feet; it was the most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century and ranks among the largest in recorded history.

Israel pushes PLO fighter out of Lebanon

In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country. (The Israelis withdrew in June 1985.)

George Floyd protests

In 2020, tens of thousands rallied in cities from Australia to Europe to honor George Floyd and voice support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Massive, peaceful protests took place nationwide to demand police reform, as services for George Floyd were held in North Carolina, near his birthplace.

Senator Jeffords leaves Republican party

In 2001, Democrats formally assumed control of the U.S. Senate after the decision of Vermont Republican James Jeffords to become an independent.

Kennedy dies from assassination attempt

In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, 251/2 hours after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.