With 2020 finally over, witnesses of this nightmarish year can all take a sigh of relief. Although there seems to be no evidence that the future will look brighter, there remain many reasons to celebrate the end of this disastrous year.
The Death of Kobe Bryant
The death of talented and beloved basketball player, Kobe Bryant, shook the world and devastated his fans. He along with his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven other passengers passed away when his helicopter crashed. Bryant played for the LA Lakers, held the title of a 5-time NBA champion, and remains one of the greatest players of all time. His fans continue to honor his legacy and his impact on basketball.
Impeachment Trial in the Senate
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump faced an impeachment trial by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. After the case passed the House of Representatives, it moved to the predominantly Republican Senate on January 16th. According to History, “On February 5, 2020, in a vote that again fell largely along party lines, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both charges.” Because of this ruling, President Trump kept his position.
COVID-19
The virus has killed thousands, put millions into quarantine, and compromised everyone’s mental well being. The U.S. recorded their first case on January 20th, and as of December 31st, 20 million cases have been recorded, along with approximately 346,000 deaths. People all over the world have adapted to social distancing, mask-wearing, and using Zoom calls as their way of interaction. As the case and death rate reach scary highs and precautions to limit the spread turned political, many companies have come through with multiple vaccines. The distribution of vaccines began in December, starting with frontline workers.
California Fires
Fires became an incredibly prominent problem in 2020, as California experienced its worst wildfire season in history. The fire resulted in more than 4 million acres burnt and at least 31 casualties. A thick, yellow-orange layer of smoke covered the sky, causing inhabitants to suffer terrible air quality. Experts suspect the cause to be climate change and years worth of dried-out vegetation fueling the fire.
Black Lives Matter Movement
This movement began with people all over the world coming together to protest police brutality and to shed light on the racial injustice towards African Americans. The protests spiked after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, two victims of discrimination at the hands of law enforcement. “The recent Black Lives Matter protests peaked on June 6, when half a million people turned out in nearly 550 places across the United States,” The New York Times notes. The movement resulted in the Minneapolis city council dismantling their police department, abolishing laws that hide police officers’ records, and banning chokeholds.
Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the well-known Supreme Court Justice who spent her life advocating for women’s rights, passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 18. Justice Ginsburg’s iconic look, the lace collar layered on top of her robe, oversized glasses, and a one-of-a-kind, stern facial expression, became a sensation over the years of her participation in the Supreme Court. Young women looked up to her as she tackled laws that supported unfair stereotypes of females.
2020 Presidential Election
Perhaps one of the most pivotal moments of this year would be the election that divided the country in two. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden both ran for the role of president, and through a series of controversial debates, multiple recounts, and unsubstantiated accusations, America declared Joe Biden as President-Elect. The 2020 election broke record numbers as more than 157 million American citizens cast their votes, strictly red states turned blue, and mail-in ballots accounted for over half of the popular vote. President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20th, 2021.
At the beginning of 2020, the world hoped that the start of a new decade would bring opportunities and a fresh start. Instead, it became a year reminding us of the people we’ve lost, the lessons we’ve learned, and our ability to adapt to the unexpected changes of the world. And as we say goodbye to this catastrophic and event-filled year, we can only remain optimistic that our lives will get better and the sense of hope will be renewed for years to come.
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