Every Sh*tty Thing That Happened in 2016
July: An attempted coup in Turkey results in the death of over 300 people.
July
A terrorist attack in Baghdad, Iraq killed 341 people and injured 250 more. The attack targeted Shia Muslims in a shopping district during Ramadan. ISIS claimed responsibility for what was the deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital in years. On July 6th, two separate killings of a black man by police are filmed, causing outrage and controversy in the United States. Philando Castile was shot while being pulled over for a broken taillight, and Alton Sterling was shot while being restrained on the ground. Three days later, tensions between law enforcement and citizens escalate when a gunman opens fire on Dallas police officers during a protest against police brutality and violence. Five officers are killed. July 14th, a holiday in France known as Bastille Day, became synonymous with tragedy this year. During celebrations in Nice, a truck rampages through crowds of celebrants, killing 86 people and injuring 434. Russia intervenes in the Syrian Civil War, with Russian airstrikes cutting off rebel access to the city of Aleppo. More than 300,000 people are stranded in the besieged city, while the war rages on. In Turkey, a military coup is attempted, resulting in the arrest of over 6,000 people and the death of over 300. President Erdogan retains power amidst growing political unrest in the nation. ISIS continues to terrorize the Middle East, with a suicide bomber killing 80 people during a protest in Kabul, Afghanistan.
August 31: Brazilians celebrate the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff
August August saw a relative pause in the tumultuous world as the nations collectively focused their interests on the Olympics in Brazil. This year was the first Olympics to include a team solely composed of refugees, drawing attention to the refugee crisis faced by many throughout the year. It wasn’t all fun and games in Brazil, though, as shortly after the end of the Olympics, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is deemed unfit to rule and subsequently impeached in a 61 to 20 vote. On August 24th, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Italy, killing 297 people and injuring over 400. Notable deaths include actors Gene Wilder, David Huddleston, and Kenny Baker. |
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