Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology

Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.

Compiled by Ulli Diemer

February 4, 1868
U.S. forces intervene in Japan ‘to protect American interests.’ Related Topics: Intervention – Japan – U.S. Imperialism
February 4, 1869
Birth of Big Bill Haywood (1869-1928), unionist and communist, one of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Related Topics: Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) – Labour History
February 4, 1892
Birth of Andres Nin (1892-1937), Spanish Catalan Marxist and revolutionary. Related Topics: Spanish Civil War
February 4, 1899
Fighting breaks out between Filipino revolutionaries seeking independence for the Philippines and U.S. forces seeking to impose American rule. Related Topics: Intervention – Philippines – U.S. Imperialism
February 4, 1906
Birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German theologian killed for opposing Hitler. Related Topics: Anti-Nazi Resistance
February 4, 1913
Birth of Rosa Parks (Rosa Louise McCauley) (1913-2005), American civil rights activist. Related Topics: Civil Rights – De-segregation – Jim Crow
February 4, 1921
Birth of Betty Friedan (1921-2006), American feminist, author of The Feminine Mystique. Related Topics: Feminism
February 4, 1987
Assassination of Meena Keshwar Kamal (1956-1987), founder of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. Kamal and RAWA opposed both Soviet control of Afghanistan and Muslim fundamentalists, and fought for equality and education for women. Kamal and her husband Faiz Ahmad were both murdered by Muslim fundamentalists. Related Topics: Afghanistan – Assassinations – Women's Liberation Movement