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Major Events of April 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from April 1987 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of April 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 1987 Steve Newman's Historic Global Walk: Steve Newman accomplished an extraordinary feat of human endurance by becoming the first person to complete a solo walk around the world. Over a remarkable journey spanning 4 years, he traversed approximately 22,000 miles, crossing multiple continents and facing numerous challenges. His epic trek demonstrated extraordinary physical and mental resilience, pushing the boundaries of human exploration and personal determination.
  • 02 Apr 1987 IBM Launches Revolutionary Personal Computer System: IBM announces groundbreaking Personal System/2 (PS/2) computers featuring advanced technologies including VGA 256-color graphics, Micro Channel Architecture, OS/2 operating system, and 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy disk drives, marking a significant milestone in personal computing.
  • 03 Apr 1987 Soviet Nuclear Test in Kazakhstan: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeastern Kazakhstan, continuing its Cold War-era nuclear weapons development program.
  • 04 Apr 1987 Garuda Indonesia Flight 032 Crash: Garuda Indonesia Flight 032 tragically crashed at Medan Airport in North Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting in the loss of 23 lives. The accident highlighted ongoing aviation safety concerns in the region during the late 1980s.
  • 05 Apr 1987 Fox TV Network Launches with Iconic Shows: Fox Television Network premiered, introducing groundbreaking sitcoms 'Married... with Children' and 'The Tracey Ullman Show', marking a significant moment in television entertainment history.
  • 06 Apr 1987 Al Campanis Racial Controversy on Nightline: Al Campanis, then general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, appeared on ABC's Nightline and made controversial remarks suggesting that Black individuals might not be qualified for management positions in baseball, which sparked a significant racial controversy and led to widespread public condemnation.
  • 07 Apr 1987 Al Campanis Resigns from Dodgers After Controversial Remarks: Al Campanis, a long-time Los Angeles Dodgers executive with over 40 years of service, resigned from his position following highly controversial racial remarks he made during an appearance on ABC's Nightline program. His comments sparked significant public outrage and highlighted ongoing racial tensions in professional sports management.
  • 08 Apr 1987 Al Campanis Resigns from Los Angeles Dodgers After Racist Remarks: Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis resigned from his position following highly controversial comments he made on ABC's 'Nightline' program regarding racial barriers and the perceived capabilities of Black individuals in baseball management. His remarks sparked significant public outrage and highlighted systemic racial discrimination in professional sports leadership.
  • 09 Apr 1987 Wayne Gretzky's Historic Stanley Cup Performance: Wayne Gretzky achieved an extraordinary milestone in NHL playoff history by scoring 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) in a Stanley Cup game, simultaneously becoming the all-time playoff scoring champion by surpassing Jean Béliveau's record.
  • 10 Apr 1987 Prince's 'Sign 'O' The Times' Leads R&B Charts: Prince's innovative and socially conscious track 'Sign 'O' The Times' reached number one on the R&B charts, showcasing his musical genius and ability to blend social commentary with compelling musical arrangements.
  • 11 Apr 1987 Secret London Agreement Between Israel and Jordan: A confidential diplomatic agreement was signed between Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres and King Hussein of Jordan, potentially representing a significant moment in Middle Eastern diplomatic relations during the late 1980s.
  • 12 Apr 1987 CBS Premieres 'Escape from Sobibor': CBS broadcast the fact-based World War II drama 'Escape from Sobibor', a powerful television film depicting the remarkable true story of a prisoner revolt at the Sobibor extermination camp during the Holocaust.
  • 13 Apr 1987 Portugal-China Macau Agreement: Portugal signed a historic agreement with the People's Republic of China to return the territory of Macau to Chinese sovereignty, with the transfer scheduled for 1999, marking the end of Portuguese colonial administration.
  • 14 Apr 1987 Turkey's Application to European Economic Community: On April 14, 1987, Turkey formally submitted an official application to join the European Economic Community (EEC), marking a significant diplomatic milestone in its quest for European integration. This application represented Turkey's strategic ambition to strengthen its economic and political ties with Western European nations.
  • 15 Apr 1987 Driving Miss Daisy Broadway Premiere: Alfred Uhry's critically acclaimed play 'Driving Miss Daisy' premiered in New York City. The play, which would later be adapted into an Oscar-winning film, explores themes of racial dynamics and friendship in the American South.
  • 16 Apr 1987 August Wilson Wins Pulitzer Prize: Playwright August Wilson was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his groundbreaking play 'Fences', a powerful exploration of African American experience in the mid-20th century.
  • 17 Apr 1987 USSR Nuclear Test in Kazakhstan: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Eastern Kazakhstan, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era.
  • 18 Apr 1987 Nuclear Test at Maralinga: The United States conducted an atmospheric nuclear test at the Maralinga test site in Australia, continuing Cold War-era nuclear weapons development and testing programs.
  • 19 Apr 1987 The Simpsons Debut: The Simpsons first appeared as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, marking the beginning of what would become a groundbreaking animated sitcom.
  • 20 Apr 1987 US Deports Nazi War Crimes Suspect: The United States deports Karl Linnas to the Soviet Union to face charges of Nazi war crimes committed during World War II.
  • 21 Apr 1987 Tamil Tigers Car Bomb Attack in Colombo: A devastating car bomb detonated in the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, attributed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), resulting in 106 civilian deaths. This terrorist attack was part of the ongoing Sri Lankan Civil War, highlighting the intense ethnic conflict between Tamil separatists and the Sinhalese-dominated government.
  • 22 Apr 1987 Supreme Court Ruling on Racial Bias in Criminal Justice: On April 22, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court made a controversial ruling that effectively acknowledged systemic racial disparities in criminal sentencing. The court rejected a Black defendant's appeal challenging racial inequality in death penalty cases, instead characterizing racial bias as an 'inevitable part of our criminal justice system'.
  • 23 Apr 1987 The Simpsons First TV Appearance: The iconic animated series The Simpsons makes its debut as a short animated segment on The Tracey Ullman Show, marking the beginning of what would become a groundbreaking television franchise.
  • 24 Apr 1987 Palm Bay Shopping Mall Mass Shooting: A devastating mass shooting occurred at the Palm Bay Shopping Mall in Florida, where 60-year-old William Cruse went on a violent rampage. He killed 6 people and wounded 15 others, holding hostages for 8 hours before being captured by law enforcement. This tragic event highlighted issues of gun violence and public safety in the late 1980s.
  • 25 Apr 1987 Madonna Makes UK Chart History: On April 25, 1987, Madonna achieved a significant milestone in her music career by becoming the first female solo artist to have four Number One singles in the United Kingdom. Her hit song 'La Isla Bonita' helped her secure this groundbreaking achievement, demonstrating her immense popularity and musical influence during the mid-1980s. This accomplishment highlighted Madonna's status as a pop culture icon and her ability to consistently produce chart-topping music that resonated with audiences.
  • 26 Apr 1987 Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi Passes Away: Shankar Singh, a prominent music director in the Hindi film industry and one half of the legendary music composer duo Shankar-Jaikishan, died on April 26, 1987. His passing marked the end of an era in Indian film music.
  • 27 Apr 1987 US Bars Kurt Waldheim from Entry: The US Justice Department officially bars Austrian Chancellor Kurt Waldheim from entering the United States due to his documented involvement with Nazi Germany during World War II. This action highlights ongoing international efforts to hold individuals accountable for war crimes and Nazi collaboration.
  • 28 Apr 1987 Ben Linder Killed in Nicaragua: American engineer Ben Linder was tragically killed in an ambush by U.S.-funded Contras in northern Nicaragua. Linder, who was working on humanitarian projects in the region, became a victim of the complex and violent political conflict that characterized Nicaragua during the 1980s. His death highlighted the brutal nature of the Contra insurgency and raised international attention to the ongoing civil strife in Central America.
  • 29 Apr 1987 Sri Lankan Civil War Conflict Escalation: The Sri Lankan Air Force conducted a bombing operation in Tamil-controlled areas, resulting in significant civilian casualties and escalating the ongoing Sri Lankan Civil War, which was characterized by intense ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese-dominated government and Tamil separatist groups.
  • 30 Apr 1987 Meech Lake Accord Principles Agreed: Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Provincial Premiers reach a preliminary agreement on the Meech Lake Accord, a significant constitutional negotiation aimed at bringing Quebec into the Canadian constitutional framework.