Political and Social Events
- The 1924, 1976, 1980, and 1992 Democratic National Conventions were held at MSG.
- On February 20, 1939, A large German American Bund convention was held prompting riots and protests in and around the arena by American Jews and others.
- Former Republican Party presidential candidate Wendell Willkie led 20,000 African Americans on June 7, 1943, the largest Civil Rights rally of its time, in calling for equal rights and for victory in the war against Hitler.
- President John F. Kennedy's 45th birthday celebration took place at the Garden on May 19, 1962. During it, Marilyn Monroe sang her now infamous Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
- On July 1, 1982 Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon held a Blessing Ceremony in the Garden for 2075 couples. This event attracted much public and media attention (including a story in Life), often being called a "mass wedding."
- The 2004 Republican National Convention at MSG marked the first time that the Republican party held their convention in New York City.
Read more about this topic: Events At Madison Square Garden
Famous quotes containing the words political, social and/or events:
“No God and no religion can survive ridicule. No political church, no nobility, no royalty or other fraud, can face ridicule in a fair field, and live.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)
“As the tragic writer rids us of what is petty and ignoble in our nature, so also the humorist rids us of what is cautious, calculating, and priggish—about half of our social conscience, indeed. Both of them permit us, in blessed moments of revelation, to soar above the common level of our lives.”
—Robertson Davies (b. 1913)
“It is clear to everyone that astronomy at all events compels the soul to look upwards, and draws it from the things of this world to the other.”
—Plato (c. 427–347 B.C.)