A jury is deciding the fate of former Ku Klux Klansman Bobby Frank Cherry, who is accused of the 1963 church bombing that killed four black schoolgirls. CNN’s Gary Tuchman reports (May 22) Play video

Former Klansman guilty of murder

• BY DAVID HANCOCK

In the final trial stemming from one of the most notorious crimes of the civil rights era, a jury convicted former Ku Klux Klansman Bobby Frank Cherry of murder Wednesday in a church bombing that killed four black girls in 1963.

The 71-year-old Cherry faces an automatic sentence of life in prison. The jury of nine whites and three blacks deliberated less than a day before returning the verdict after a weeklong trial marked by witnesses with admittedly faded memories and haunting images from the nation’s segregationist past.

A CBS News producer who was in the courtroom for the verdict said that Cherry reacted emotionally to the verdict. Asked by the judge if he had any comment, Cherry stood, pointed at prosecutors and said: “This whole bunch lied all the way through this thing.”

Source: cbsnews.com

Celebrating tea’s cultural, economic, and health significance worldwide.

International Tea Day is an annual observance recognized by the United Nations to honor tea as a cultural tradition, a source of livelihood, and a contributor to sustainable development

globalwdf.org+1. The day highlights the importance of tea in supporting millions of smallholder farmers, promoting fair trade, and fostering intercultural understanding 

internationaleventday.com+1. Tea is the second most consumed beverage globally after water, with over 2 billion cups consumed daily, reflecting its widespread popularity and social significance 

National Today+1.

Purpose and Significance

The observance aims to:

• Celebrate global tea heritage and its diverse cultural practices awarenessdays.com.
• Promote sustainable production and fair trade, particularly in regions where tea cultivation supports rural economies internationaleventday.com+1.
• Raise awareness of tea’s health benefits, including antioxidants, cardiovascular support, weight management, and digestive aid National Today+1.
• Encourage dialogue and cooperation among nations, NGOs, and cultural institutions through tea as a symbol of peace and shared human progress globalwdf.org.

Source: globalwdf.org internationaleventday.com NationalToday fao.com

May 20, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act opening millions of acres of government-owned land in the West to “homesteaders” who could acquire up to 160 acres by living on the land and cultivating it for five years, paying just $1.25 per acre.