June 21: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2022: The Kremlin chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested that two American veterans captured in Ukraine, Alex Drueke and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, might face potential death penalty. Peskov argued they were 'soldiers of fortune' not protected by Geneva Conventions, claiming they participated in attacking Russian forces. The U.S. State Department called on Moscow to respect international obligations, emphasizing that captured fighters should be treated humanely.
• 2020: National Indigenous Peoples Day is an annual celebration honoring the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada. Traditionally observed on the summer solstice (June 21), this day recognizes the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of Indigenous communities. In 1996, then Governor General Roméo LeBlanc officially proclaimed June 21 as National Aboriginal Day, which was later renamed to National Indigenous Peoples Day to promote inclusivity and respect for Indigenous identities.
• 2019: A devastating suicide bombing targeting a crowd of Shia Muslims in eastern Baghdad resulted in ten civilian casualties.
• 2007: Bob Evans, a prominent American restaurateur and founder of the Bob Evans restaurant chain, passed away. Known for transforming a small farm restaurant into a national food service brand, Evans was a significant figure in the American restaurant industry.
• 2003: Leon Uris, a prominent American novelist known for historical fiction works like 'Exodus' and 'Mila 18', passed away. He was a significant literary figure who wrote extensively about Jewish history and World War II experiences.
• 2001: Carroll O'Connor, renowned American actor best known for his groundbreaking role as Archie Bunker in the influential sitcom 'All in the Family', passed away at the age of 76. O'Connor was celebrated for his complex portrayal of a bigoted character that challenged societal norms and sparked important conversations about racism and social change.
• 1996: The hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony reached the number 1 position on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with their hit single 'Tha Crossroads' during the week of June 17-23, 1996. The song, which was a tribute to deceased friends and family members, became a significant crossover success for the Cleveland-based rap group.
• 1993: The classic musical 'Camelot' by Lerner and Loewe opened at the Gershwin Theater in New York City, beginning a limited run of 56 performances. This revival brought the legendary Arthurian musical back to Broadway, celebrating its timeless storytelling and musical composition.
• 1979: Sri Lanka secured a decisive 60-run victory against Canada in the 1st ICC Trophy, marking an important milestone in the team's cricket history. This early international tournament performance would foreshadow Sri Lanka's future emergence as a competitive cricket nation on the global stage.
• 1973: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller Test, a comprehensive legal standard for defining obscenity in U.S. law. The decision provides a three-part test to determine whether material is legally obscene, significantly impacting First Amendment protections and freedom of speech.

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June 21st marks the 172nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 173rd in case of leap years).

There are 193 days remaining until the end of the year.

June 21st is the 21st day of the month of June.

What day of the week is June 21?

On June 21st, 2025 the day of the week is Saturday.

Holidays and Observances on June 21

The zodiac sign associated with June 21st is Cancer according to the Western Zodiac.

More about June 21 zodiac

What is special about the Cancer sign?

• Cancer personality traits and attitude
• Cancer most and least compatible signs
• Why June born are so special