Thisnis a sad commemoration—as you can tell from the word “martyrs”nin the holiday name—but I learned an interesting new term innrelation to this day: Zonians.
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Backnat the beginning of the 20th Century, Panama gained itsnindependence from Colombia with the assistance of the U.S. But thenU.S. didn’t help Panama unselfishly—it wanted to control the PanamanCanal Zone. This strip of land running from the Pacific Ocean to thenCaribbean Sea, on either side of the canal, had its own police, postnoffices, courts, schools, and TV and radio stations. The zone becamenU.S. territory, pretty much.
Backnat the beginning of the 20th Century, Panama gained itsnindependence from Colombia with the assistance of the U.S. But thenU.S. didn’t help Panama unselfishly—it wanted to control the PanamanCanal Zone. This strip of land running from the Pacific Ocean to thenCaribbean Sea, on either side of the canal, had its own police, postnoffices, courts, schools, and TV and radio stations. The zone becamenU.S. territory, pretty much.n
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Younmay have guessed that the people who lived in that zone were callednZonians. These Zonians were, for the most part, very patriotic U.S.ncitizens.
Younmay have guessed that the people who lived in that zone were callednZonians. These Zonians were, for the most part, very patriotic U.S.ncitizens.n
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nManynPanamanians resented the 1903 treaty that gave the U.S. control ofnthe Canal Zone. (I do want to point out that the treaty included cashnpayments from the U.S. to Panama for the rights—one large start-upnpayment plus yearly payments.)
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nInn1963, President John F. Kennedy listened to Panamanians’ concerns,nand he agreed to fly Panama’s flag alongside the U.S. flag, wherevernthe U.S. flag was flown. But Kennedy was assassinated before thisnorder was carried out. An overly patriotic U.S. citizen had sued inncourt so that he wouldn’t have to fly Panama’s flag, and the PanamanCanal Zone Governor—trying to soothe everyone’s feelings, bothnZonians’ and Panamanians’— declared that NO flag would be flownnoutside schools, police stations, or post offices.
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nHenwas trying to placate everybody—but even more people were now upsetnabout this latest decision.
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nOnnJanuary 7, 1964, Zonian high school students held a protest andnraised a U.S. flag on the school’s empty flagpole. When officialsntried to carry out the governor’s decree and lower the flag, thenstudents posted guards and wouldn’t allow it.
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Twondays later, having heard about the Zonian students’ actions,nPanamanian high school students decided to hold their own peacefulnprotest. From 150 to 200 students marched to the Zonian high schoolnwith a Panamanian flag, ready to raise it according to Kennedy’snorder. They were met by a large crowd of Zonian students, adults, andnpolice officers. And in the not-so-peaceful meeting of the twongroups, the Panamanian flag was torn.
Twondays later, having heard about the Zonian students’ actions,nPanamanian high school students decided to hold their own peacefulnprotest. From 150 to 200 students marched to the Zonian high schoolnwith a Panamanian flag, ready to raise it according to Kennedy’snorder. They were met by a large crowd of Zonian students, adults, andnpolice officers. And in the not-so-peaceful meeting of the twongroups, the Panamanian flag was torn.n
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Thenpeaceful protest became a riot, and 25 people died.
Thenpeaceful protest became a riot, and 25 people died.n
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nYoungot that right: 25 people died—over flags!
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nHowever,nthis event was a turning point, and with the world condemning thenU.S. handling of the affair, the notion that the Canal Zone should benreturned to Panama began to take hold in the U.S. In 1977, a treatyntransferred the Canal Zone to Panama. n
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nAlsonon this date:
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National Static Electricity Day
National Static Electricity Day n
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nBalloonnAscension Day
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nAnniversarynof Columbus spotting mermaids (supposedly!)
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