We can all agree that this year has been long and exhausting. The year started with Kobe Bryant’s shocking death in a helicopter crash and proved to be the gift that keeps giving. Now that it is coming to a close, we reflect on some of the craziest events this year has given us.
- Coronavirus Pandemic
The World Health Organization announced on January 31 that coronavirus had emerged as a Global Health Emergency, originating from Wuhan, China. Within months, the virus had spread worldwide, infecting more than 78 million people and causing almost 2 million deaths.
2. Presidential election
There’s still a lot to unpack when it comes to the 2020 Presidential election. We saw Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris face off against GOP incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence. There was a lot of misinformation spread leading up to, and ever after, the election. The election gave us our first female Vice Presidential candidate. And despite losing the election, Trump still refused to concede to President-elect Biden.
3. Kobe Bryant
Basketball legend Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash and his daughter, Gianna, and seven other people on January 26.
4. Black Lives Matter protests
The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor sparked nationwide outrage and the protests that followed. Demonstrations occurred worldwide to demand an end to police brutality and systemic racism.
5. Murder Hornets
In May, “murder hornets” arrived in Washington state. Known as the Asian giant hornet, the invasive insect can wipe an entire bee colony within hours and has a stinger long enough to pierce a beekeeping suit.
6. Ghislaine Maxwell
Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend and madam were arrested on July 2 on sex-trafficking charges for her part in grooming young girls to have sex with the wealthy financier.
7. Beirut Explosion
On August 4, a huge explosion rocked a Beirut port, killing at least 190 people and injuring thousands more. An accidental detonation of ammonium nitrate caused the massive blast.
8. Kamala Harris
2020 gave us our first Black woman and first Asian woman Vice President-elect when Kamala Harris and Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election.
9. COVID-19 Vaccine
Two vaccines for COVID-19 were developed, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and rolled out to the public in less than a year, thanks to Pfizer and Moderna. The first Americans were vaccinated on December 14.
10. George Floyd
George Floyd was killed while in police custody on May 25. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. His death was the catalyst behind global outrage over police brutality and systemic racism and the demonstrations that followed.
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