1. Loretta Lynch Confirmed As U.S. Attorney General
She was confirmed in April after Eric Holder Jr. stepped down, becoming the first African-American woman and second woman to hold the position.
2. Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The court voted 5-to-4 in June.
3. Confederate Flag Removed From South Carolina Statehouse
The removal came after activist Bree Newsome first removed it in protest.
4. Hillary Clinton Announces Second Presidential Bid
The former U.S. Secretary of State made the announcement in April.
5. President Barack Obama Defends Black Lives Matter
“The protests are giving voice to a problem happening only in African-American communities,” he said in October.
6. President Obama Visits Prison
He visited a federal cellblock in Oklahoma in July, becoming the first sitting president to visit a prison. Criminal justice reform is a major part of his last two years in office.
7. U.S. and Cuba Restore Diplomatic Relations.
The agreement was reached in July.
8. DOJ Announces Probe Of Chicago Police
The announcement came after video showed officer Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times, including at least 10 times while he was limp on the ground.
9. President Barack Obama Sings “Amazing Grace”
He broke into song at the funeral of Clementa Pinckney, pastor of Emanuel AME and state senator. Pinckney and eight others were shot and killed by an avowed White supremacist.
10. Vice President Joe Biden Almost Ran for President
He announced in October that he would not seek the Democratic nomination.
11. Bernie Sanders Sick of Clinton’s Emails
The Democratic presidential candidate said people are sick of hearing about Hillary Clinton’s “damn emails” at the first debate in October.
