March 2012
March 2012 was a month marked by significant events across various domains including politics, sports, social movements, and notable births and deaths. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the key occurrences during this month.
Political Events
Quebec Student Protests
On March 22, 2012, Montreal witnessed the largest protest in Quebec's history, with over 200,000 people marching against government tuition hikes and advocating for free access to post-secondary education. This event was part of the broader Maple Spring movement.
Global March to Jerusalem
The international committee on the Global March to Jerusalem organized an event on March 30, 2012, under the slogan "Freedom for Jerusalem, No Occupation, No Ethnic Cleansing and Segregation, No for Judaising of Palestine, its land and holy sites." This event coincided with Palestine Land Day.
Palestinian Administrative Detention
On March 1, 2012, Palestinian academic Ahmad Qatamesh received a third six-month administrative detention order. Amnesty International called for his unconditional release, considering him a prisoner of conscience.
Sports
NFL Bounty Program
On March 2, 2012, the NFL established the existence of a bounty program at the New Orleans Saints from 2009-2011. Players were given incentives to injure opposition players, leading to the suspension of coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season.
Cultural Events
Theatre Communications Group Event
On March 11, 2012, dozens of theatre organizations across America performed a menu of ten-minute plays and songs. This event included works by playwrights such as Naomi Iizuka, Toshiki Okada, Richard Greenberg, Doug Wright, Edward Albee, Stephen Sondheim, and Tony Kushner.
Conferences and Meetings
ASPA 2012 Annual Conference
The American Society for Public Administration held its annual conference from March 2-6, 2012, in Las Vegas, NV.
Participatory Budgeting Conference
An international conference on Participatory Budgeting in the US and Canada took place from March 30-31, 2012, in New York, NY.
Notable Births
Notable Births in March 2012
- Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, was born on January 7, 2012, but her birth continued to make headlines in March 2012.
Notable Deaths
Notable Deaths in March 2012
- Earl Scruggs, an influential American banjo player, passed away on March 28, 2012.
- Robert B. Sherman, an American songwriter known for his work on Disney films, died on March 6, 2012.