February 11, 1978
Native Americans began The Longest Walk, a march from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay to Washington, D.C. The Walk was intended to be a reminder of the forced removal of American Indians from their homelands across the continent, and drew attention to the continuing problems plaguing the Indian community, particularly joblessness, lack of health care, education and adequate housing.
February 11, 1990
Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in a South African prison following months of secret negotiations with South African President F.W. de Klerk. He spent most of his sentence on Robben Island, off Cape Town, doing hard labor.
