On this day: May 17
Boxer Declared Winner After Opponent Refuses to Leave Stool
On May 17, 1956, a professional boxing match ended when one fighter refused to leave his stool for the start of the round, leading the referee to award the bout to his opponent. The decision followed ringside consultation and application of rules governing a fighter’s readiness to continue.
South Korea Declares Martial Law as Protests Escalate in May 1980
On May 17, 1980, South Korea’s government declared nationwide martial law amid mass protests and political turmoil following the assassination of President Park Chung-hee and rising demands for democratization. The move expanded military authority, suppressed demonstrations, and set the stage for a violent crackdown in Gwangju.
Brown v. Board of Education Ends Legal School Segregation in the United States
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that state laws establishing separate public schools for Black and white students were unconstitutional and marking a pivotal legal victory in the civil rights movement.
Supreme Court Rules School Segregation Unconstitutional Nationwide
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that state laws establishing separate public schools for Black and white students were unconstitutional, overturning the legal doctrine of “separate but equal.”