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
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October 17, 1760
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Birth of Henri Saint-Simon (1760-1825), utopian socialist.
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October 17, 1883
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Birth of A.S. Neill (1883-1973), progressive educator, advocate of freedom for children, author, and founder of the free school Summerhill.
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October 17, 1920
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Death of John Reed (1887-1920), radical journalist, communist, author of Ten Days That Shook the World, an account of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Reed dies in Moscow of typhus at the age of 32.
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October 17, 1961
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Paris police massacre people taking part in a demonstration in favour of Algerian independence. The number of dead is never accurately tallied, but is believed to exceed 200. Many demonstrators are beaten unconscious and then thrown into the River Seine. Others are gunned down in the courtyard of police headquarters after being arrested and brought there on police buses.
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October 17, 1967
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In Madison, Wisconsin, a large demonstration takes place against university complicity in the Vietnam War in allowing Dow recruiters on campus. The demonstrations culminate in a sit-in that is violently dispersed by police, resulting in many injuries and arrests. A mass rally and a student strike then close the university for several days.
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October 17, 1970
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The body of Pierre Laporte, the Quebec labour minister kidnapped and murdered by the FLQ, is found.
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