Today in History: February 5, White separatist convicted of murdering civil rights leader 31 years later

"Today is Thursday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2026. There are 329 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 5, 1994, white separatist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in Jackson, Mississippi, of murdering civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963 and was sentenced to life in prison. Also on this date: In 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, an act that severely curtailed Asian immigration and mandated immigrant literacy testing."

"In 1918, more than 200 people were killed during World War I when the Cunard liner SS Tuscania, which was transporting over 2,000 American troops to Europe, was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. In 1971, Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell stepped onto the moon's surface in the first of two lunar excursions."

Feb. 5, 1994 saw the conviction of white separatist Byron De La Beckwith in Mississippi for the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, resulting in a life sentence. In 1917, Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, curtailing Asian immigration and imposing immigrant literacy tests. In 1918, the Cunard liner SS Tuscania was torpedoed off Ireland, killing more than 200 people while carrying over 2,000 American troops. In 1971, Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell conducted lunar excursions. Other notable Feb. 5 events include a 1973 Arlington service for Col. William B. Nolde, the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, a 2008 tornado outbreak, the 2017 Super Bowl comeback by Tom Brady, and the 2020 Senate acquittal of President Donald Trump.

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