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Major Events of April 1995: 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 1995 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of April 1995: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 1995 Sri Lanka's First GSM Mobile Network Launch: Dialog Telekom introduced Sri Lanka's inaugural GSM mobile phone network, marking a significant milestone in the country's telecommunications infrastructure and technological development.
  • 02 Apr 1995 MLB Strike Resolution: Major League Baseball owners accepted the players' return-to-work proposal, agreeing to delay the start of the season until April 26, ending the longest strike in American major league sports history at 232 days.
  • 03 Apr 1995 Sandra Day O'Connor Presides Over Supreme Court: Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor made history by becoming the first woman to preside over the Supreme Court, filling in for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist during his absence, symbolizing a significant milestone for women in the judicial system.
  • 04 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing Tragedy: On this day, domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh orchestrated a devastating truck bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The attack killed 168 people, including 19 innocent children, and injured hundreds more. This was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history prior to the 9/11 attacks, shocking the nation and leading to significant changes in federal security protocols.
  • 05 Apr 1995 U.S. House Passes Tax Cut Legislation: On April 5, 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a significant tax reform bill, voting 246-188 to reduce tax burdens for both individual taxpayers and corporations. This legislative action represented a key economic policy initiative during the mid-1990s, aimed at stimulating economic growth and providing financial relief to American citizens and businesses.
  • 06 Apr 1995 "Having Our Say" Broadway Premiere: The play "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years" opened at the Booth Theater in New York City, marking a significant moment in African American theatrical history. Based on the memoir of sisters Sadie and Bessie Delany, the play chronicled their remarkable lives as African American women who witnessed a century of social change, from the post-Civil War era through the Civil Rights Movement. The production ran for 308 performances, highlighting the power of personal narratives in understanding historical experiences.
  • 07 Apr 1995 Samashki Massacre during First Chechen War: Russian paramilitary troops initiated a devastating massacre of at least 250 civilians in the village of Samashki, Chechnya, marking a significant and tragic moment in the First Chechen War. This brutal event highlighted the extreme violence and human rights violations during the conflict.
  • 08 Apr 1995 Oliver McCall Wins Heavyweight Boxing Title: Oliver McCall defeated Larry Holmes in a 12-round boxing match, claiming the heavyweight championship title.
  • 09 Apr 1995 Ben Crenshaw Wins 59th Masters Golf Championship: Ben Crenshaw secured victory at the 59th Masters Golf Championship, demonstrating exceptional skill by shooting a total score of 274. This win further solidified Crenshaw's reputation as a prominent professional golfer of the mid-1990s.
  • 10 Apr 1995 Death of Chen Yun, Chinese Political Leader: Chen Yun, a prominent Chinese Communist Party leader who served as Vice-Premier of China during critical periods from 1949-1975 and 1979-1980, passed away. He was a key figure in shaping China's economic policies during its early decades of communist rule.
  • 11 Apr 1995 McNamara Admits Vietnam War Mistake: In a groundbreaking moment of historical reflection, former United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara publicly acknowledged the profound strategic and moral failures of the Vietnam War through his memoir. His candid admission revealed the complex geopolitical miscalculations and human cost of the prolonged conflict, marking a significant moment of institutional self-criticism.
  • 12 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing: Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols orchestrated a devastating terrorist attack by parking a truck laden with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The explosion killed 168 people, including children in a daycare center, and wounded 680 others, marking one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in U.S. history.
  • 13 Apr 1995 WWII Hospital Ship Wreck Discovered: The shipwreck of the torpedoed World War II hospital ship 'Centaur' was located off the coast of Cape Moreton, Queensland, providing historical insight into maritime warfare and naval losses during the conflict.
  • 14 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing: On April 19, 1995, a devastating domestic terrorist attack occurred when Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The bombing killed 168 people and injured hundreds more, marking one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history prior to 9/11. McVeigh's accomplice, Terry Nichols, was also implicated in the planning and execution of this tragic event.
  • 15 Apr 1995 Death of Harry Shoulberg, American Artist: Harry Shoulberg, a notable American painter and serigrapher known for his significant contributions to mid-20th century art, passed away on this date. Born in 1903, Shoulberg was recognized for his distinctive artistic style and techniques in printmaking, particularly in serigraphy (silk-screen printing). His work often captured the social and cultural landscapes of his era, contributing to the rich tapestry of American visual arts during a transformative period of the 20th century.
  • 16 Apr 1995 Assassination of Iqbal Masih: Child Labor Activist: Iqbal Masih, a courageous young Pakistani boy who became a global symbol of child labor resistance, was tragically assassinated. At just four years old, he was sold into carpet weaving servitude and spent six years chained to a loom. After escaping at age ten, he became an international advocate against child labor, speaking at global conferences and drawing worldwide attention to the exploitation of children. His powerful testimony and activism made him a prominent voice for child rights before his untimely murder at the age of 12.
  • 17 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing Preparation: Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols park a rental truck loaded with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, preparing for a devastating terrorist attack that would kill 168 people and injure hundreds more.
  • 18 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing Preparation: The Oklahoma City bombing, a domestic terrorist attack planned by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, involved critical preparatory activities on April 18, 1995, leading up to the devastating bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, which killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
  • 19 Apr 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing: On April 19, 1995, a devastating domestic terrorist attack occurred at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The truck bombing, perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, killed 168 people, including 19 children under the age of six, and injured between 684-759 individuals. This attack was one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, motivated by anti-government sentiment and retaliation for previous government confrontations at Ruby Ridge and Waco.
  • 20 Apr 1995 UK Number One Hit: British pop group Take That's song 'Back For Good' was the number one single in the United Kingdom on April 20, 1995, during the height of the band's popularity in the mid-1990s.
  • 21 Apr 1995 FBI Arrests Timothy McVeigh for Oklahoma City Bombing: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Timothy McVeigh in connection with the devastating Oklahoma City bombing. McVeigh was charged with 160 state offenses and 11 federal offenses, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction. This arrest marked a critical moment in addressing one of the most significant domestic terrorist attacks in U.S. history.
  • 22 Apr 1995 George Foreman Wins Heavyweight Boxing Title: George Foreman defeated Axel Schulz in a grueling 12-round heavyweight boxing match, successfully defending his title and demonstrating his remarkable boxing prowess at an advanced age.
  • 23 Apr 1995 National Day of Mourning for Oklahoma City Bombing Victims: President Bill Clinton officially declared a national day of mourning to honor the 168 lives tragically lost in the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. This domestic terrorist attack, carried out by Timothy McVeigh, was the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil prior to 9/11.
  • 24 Apr 1995 Unabomber Kills Lobbyist in Package Bomb Attack: A package bomb linked to the Unabomber terrorist Theodore Kaczynski exploded in Sacramento, California, killing Gilbert B. Murray, a prominent lobbyist for the wood products industry. This attack was part of Kaczynski's long-running domestic terrorism campaign targeting individuals he believed represented technological and industrial society.
  • 25 Apr 1995 Death of Ginger Rogers, Hollywood Dance Legend: Renowned American actress and dancer Ginger Rogers, famous for her iconic dance partnership with Fred Astaire in 10 classic Hollywood musicals, passed away at the age of 83. Rogers was a pivotal figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for her exceptional dancing skills and charismatic screen presence.
  • 26 Apr 1995 MLB Season Resumes After Major Strike: Major League Baseball resumed its season after a prolonged and contentious labor dispute, ending a significant disruption that had halted play and frustrated fans across the United States. The 1995 season marked a critical recovery period for professional baseball.
  • 27 Apr 1995 Timothy McVeigh Oklahoma City Bombing Trial: The trial of Timothy McVeigh for the devastating Oklahoma City bombing continued on this date. McVeigh was being prosecuted for the terrorist attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that killed 168 people and injured hundreds more on April 19, 1995.
  • 28 Apr 1995 Jacques Chirac Elected President of France: Jacques Chirac was elected as the President of France, succeeding François Mitterrand and representing a shift in French political leadership during the mid-1990s.
  • 29 Apr 1995 John Nonely's First MLB Home Run: Kansas City Royals player John Nonely became the 70th player in Major League Baseball history to hit a home run during his first at-bat, a rare and memorable moment in baseball history.
  • 30 Apr 1995 NSFNET Privatization: The United States government ceases funding for NSFNET, effectively privatizing the Internet and paving the way for commercial internet service providers.