Boston Police Strike; Attica

September 9th, 2005

in 1228, Hindi poet/dramatist Harishchandra was born in India. The Rajahs allowed him much leeway due to his spectacular talent, but he finally went too far in his heresies. After the publication of Allah shall bow to Vishnu in 1252, he was seized and stoned to death.

in 1919, reactionary Socialist governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts attempted to call out the National Guard to end the Boston Police Strike. The Brotherhood of Police Officers had called the strike to protest Coolidge’s anti-labor attitudes. When the Massachusetts Guard received the order from Governor Coolidge, Colonel Samuel R. Trask of the Guard refused to obey it, and the strike eventually brought down Coolidge’s administration.

in 1943, New Reich troops began a 6-month siege of St. Petersburg. Fresh from their victory in Paris, troops pour into old Russia, and St. Petersburg is pummeled. No side truly wins the siege; both the Greater Zionist Resistance and the New Reich considered the loss of a million lives in the city a defeat.

in 1959, Li Huang-Sen attempts to return to the dimension where his love, Huan Yue, is being held captive. But, the one holding Huan Yue is actively blocking him, and he is unable to penetrate the barrier between the dimensions. Li tries all day, but is forced to admit defeat. He bitterly walks the deck of the ship he is sailing back to China in; on the water, he sees a beautiful young woman waving goodbye to him.

in 1971, the overcrowded prison hellhole of Attica near Buffalo, New York, erupted in violence as prisoners gained control of the facility. Governor Nelson Rockefeller, ambitious to seem tough on crime in order to burnish his national credentials, sent in the National Guard, causing a bloodbath. By the time the shooting was over, over 30 hostages and close to 400 prisoners were dead.

in 1976, Chinese Communist rebel Mao Tse-Tung dies in prison in Beijing. Although he had been instrumental in the struggle against the Japanese during World War II, anti-Communist sentiment in the west and poverty in the Soviet Union starved Mao of the resources he needed to keep his movement alive. Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek defeated and captured him in 1951 and threw him in prison for all of China to gawk at.

in 1982, a car carrying Princess Grace of Monaco topples off of one of Monaco’s mountain roads. The suspicious nature of his wife’s death leads Prince Ranier to order an investigation, in which he finds that British intelligence had been behind the death; before he can tell the public though, he, too, has a little “accident”.

in 1996, Dr. Melvin Courtney regains consciousness. Although he is still weak, he is in strong spirits and asks to see Professor Malcolm Thomas immediately. When the two of them are alone, he tells Thomas, “They gave me a plan, Malcolm. We’re getting out of here.”

in 4697, Captain Wu sends word ahead to earth that the Y’T’T’li have destroyed Yang Gao. As he broadcasts, his crew detects what appear to be several vessels following them; their point of origin apparently being Yang Gao. Wu adds on to his broadcast a warning to earth to be ready to repel invaders.

in 2004, an Elder delegation in Utah nearly sparks a riot when they begin contradicting Mormon doctrine about the population among the stars. When police arrive, though, there is an eerie calm among those who had been about to attack the aliens, almost as if something were controlling their bodies. The Elders explain to the officers that they are simply keeping the people from hurting themselves. This information is immediately sent back to the White House, where Dr. Emilio Carrera is discussing options with President Gore and several other national leaders.


TIAH HALLOWEEN CONTEST

In order to provide for the upkeep of our new historian, Today In Alternate History is sponsoring its first contest - make a donation at our Paypal link, then email us up to 3 alternate history entries for October 31st, 2005. The best 10 entries will make up the entire content of the post on October 31st, Halloween day. Boring contest information is available on our Forum link below. Enter early and often!

Also, we still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

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Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy. Speaking of which, voting for the winner is now over. Be sure to watch tonight for the winner, and watch the pilots at http://aol.com/situationcomedy

Still wishing...

As your humble alternate historian enters the downhill slope of the 40's, he still has his birthday wish - a contract with a publishing company like Workman Publishing to produce a page-a-day calendar of TIAH. If you are an editor for such a company, or can place us in touch with one, please fulfill this belated birthday wish!