Historical eventJuly 221954

Declaration of martial law in Russell County, Alabama

A limited state of martial law was declared in Russell County, Alabama, due to organized crime.

Everything on July 22Original source

In context

When
Thursday, July 22 195472 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1950s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1954.

What came before

Background Russell County within Alabama The city of Girard , in Russell County, Alabama , was dependent upon the liquor trade, being home to two major whiskey warehouses. The state outlawed the sale of liquor in 1914 but it continued in Girard with local officials turning a blind eye. [ 1 ] In 1916 the Alabama State Attorney General Logan Martin intervened, sending armed deputies to the city and appointing a special prosecutor to take charge.

What happened

A limited state of martial law was declared in Russell County, Alabama, due to organized crime.

July 22 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1954Declaration of martial law in Russell County, Alabama
  2. 1993Great Flood of 1993
  3. 1997Eiichiro Oda
  4. 1997Blue Water Bridge
  5. 2002Israel Defense Forces
  6. 2003Iraq War
  7. 2005Killing of Jean Charles de Menezes
  8. 20112011 Norway attacks
  9. 2012Syrian civil war
  10. 20132013 Dingxi earthquakes
  11. 2019Chandrayaan-2

Also in 1954

  • September 91954 Chlef earthquakeA magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck near Chlef, killing over 1,200 people and forcing the Algerian government to implement comprehensive re…
  • September 15The Seven Year ItchThe scene in The Seven Year Itch of Marilyn Monroe standing in a white dress over a subway grate was filmed by Billy Wilder.
  • June 14Dwight D. EisenhowerU.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law that places the words "under God" into the United States Pledge of Allegiance.
  • September 3People's Liberation ArmyThe People's Liberation Army begins shelling the Republic of China-controlled islands of Quemoy, starting the First Taiwan Strait Crisis.
  • July 5Elvis PresleyElvis Presley recorded his first single, "That's All Right", at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • July 311954 Italian expedition to K2A team of Italian climbers became the first to reach the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain.
  • July 17First Indochina WarFirst Indochina War: Viet Minh troops successfully ambush the armoured French column 'G.M. 42' in the Battle of Chu Dreh Pass in the Cent…
  • February 2Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings played in the first outdoor hockey game by any NHL team in an exhibition against the Marquette Branch Prison Pirate…

Everything we record for 1954 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Declaration of martial law in Russell County, Alabama”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/declaration-of-martial-law-in-russell-county-alabama-1954-july-22, accessed October 29, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Declaration of martial law in Russell County, Alabama happen?

July 22 1954 — 72 years ago, on a Thursday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

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