The Events that Shaped 2020
By far, 2020 has been one of the craziest years I’ve ever experienced. So much has happened this year that it’s understandable to not know everything and all the events that occurred. So, let’s recap. Here is what you may have missed:
January 2020: US Announces First Case of Coronavirus
On Jan. 21, the first case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus was confirmed in the US. The patient, a woman in her 60s, was returning to Washington from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of pneumonia has been ongoing since December 2019. They were treated for the illness at a Washington facility and testing was sent to the CDC for further investigation. A week later, her husband had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, also known as the Coronavirus or COVID-19. As her husband didn’t travel with her, this confirmed that it can be transmitted through person-to-person contact.
February 2020: Kobe Bryant Memorial
On Jan. 26, Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter, Gianna Bryant, along with several passengers, were killed in a helicopter crash. A public memorial was held at the Staples Center on Feb. 24. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and mother to their four daughters, spoke publicly for the first time since the crash. “God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,” she said. “He has to bring them home together.” It’s been said that Kobe and Vanessa made the decision to never fly together. The decision was not fear-based or because there was a concern that something would happen- Rather, it was just a precaution…
March 2020: Amazon Workers Strike
On March 30, Amazon workers walked out of a Staten Island facility, going on strike. Due to the Coronavirus, many workers went on strike as there were insufficient safety measures being put in place. They were being put at risk. This strike was led by Christian Smalls. Smalls was alarmed when his coworker was visibly ill with puffy red eyes; the same coworker who later tested positive for COVID-19. “She has been there the previous week,” Smalls said. “We don’t know how long she’s been positive.” Not long after the protest, Smalls was fired for violating social distancing guidelines multiple times and had returned to work after being told to stay home.
April 2020: Bernie Sanders Drops out of Race
On April 8, Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the presidential race. He explained how he no longer saw a realistic path to the Democratic nomination, but the decision was not made lightly. “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour,” he said. “While this campaign is coming to an end, our movement is not.”
May 2020: BLM Protests in the Name of George Floyd
On May 26, hundreds of people gathered at the intersection where George Floyd died. Floyd was being arrested after police were called for a potential forgery in progress, on the 25th. During the arrest, former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, placed his knees on Floyd’s neck, in which Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.” This continued for eight minutes and 46 seconds. As a result of the incident, four officers have been fired, including Chauvin. The 26th was not the only day of protest, in fact, protests are still happening in the name of George Floyd. “I can’t breathe” became highlighted across the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
June 2020: Free after 23 Years on Death Row
On June 5, Walter Ogrod was set free after spending 23 years on death row, wrongfully. In the virtual courtroom of Philadelphia, Judge Shelley Robins New apologized to 56 year old Ogrod. He has spent a quarter-century on death row for the murder of 4 year old Barbara Jean Horn. “I’m sorry it took 28 years for us to listen to what Barbara Jean was trying to tell us,” she said. “That you are innocent, and that the words of your statement of confession came from Philadelphia police detectives and not you.”
July 2020: Beyoncé’s “Black Is King”
On July 31, Beyoncé’s “Black Is King” was released on Disney+. “Black Is King” is a visual album that emphasizes the lessons found within “The Lion King,” including finding one’s own identity. Also, it is a celebratory memoir for the world on the black experience. “The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey,” she wrote. “We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.”
August 2020: TikTok’s Obsession with the 27th
On Aug. 27, TikTok had a popular theory that one that day, your manifestations will come true. Also, it has been pointed out that the 27th is an important date in astrology and that there will be positive energy. Some people are declaring the 27th to be a TikTok holiday. #August27 became trending both on TikTok and on Twitter. There was a lot of confusion towards the date, as questions as to why they were “chosen.” Creators made videos telling views to remember the date and that they would be chosen. Furthermore, people included what they were manifesting in hope that it would come true. For example, the most popular manifestation was that the 27th would be Trump’s death date.
September 2020: Death of RBG
On Sept. 13, Ruth Bader Ginsberg passed away at the age of 87. RBG was the second woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. She was a cultural leader and an amazing advocate for women’s rights. An icon. As a woman who was shorter than five foot and weighed under 100 pounds, she was strong. Her death was a result of complications from her metastatic pancreatic cancer. Without a doubt, RBG will be remembered forever. People will continue to tattoo RBG’s face on their bodies and little girls will continue to dress up as her for Halloween, on top of playing the RBG documentary. As the saying goes, “You can’t have TRUTH, without RUTH.”
October 2020: Trump Tests Positive for Coronavirus
On Oct. 2, President Trump tweeted “Tonight, [Melania Trump] and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump boarded his Marine One helicopter for a flight to Walter Reed Medical Center, a military hospital located in Bethesda, Maryland. After his three day stay for recovery, Trump left to continue his recovery at the White House.
November 2020: Presidential Election
On Nov. 3, people took to the polls to vote for the 46th president. Democratic presidential candidate was Joe Biden and the republican presidential candidate was President Donald Trump, running for his second term. Former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election receiving 306 electoral votes, whereas President Donald Trump received 232 electoral votes. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, will be the first black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as Vice President. They will be inaugurated, sworn in, on January 20, 2021.
December 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine Administered
On Dec. 14, the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered. According to The Wall Street Journals, it is marked “the most urgent mass immunization campaign since polio shorts were rolled out in the 1950s.” Sandra Lindsay, a critical-care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, NY, was the first to receive the vaccine. She expressed how she was relieved to receive the vaccine and hoped the moment marked the beginning of the end of a very painful time in history. “I’m feeling well, I would like to thank all the frontline workers, all my colleagues,” Ms. Lindsay said. “We all need to do our part to put an end to the pandemic.”
Like I said, 2020 has been crazy. A year filled with viruses, Lysol, masks, toilet paper shortages, Zoom, death, and more. Crazy highs and crazy lows. So much has happened this year, that it would be impossible to put it all in one article. Tell me, what has been your craziest experience of 2020?
