5. The Verdict Watched By Millions
Photo: madison.com
On October 3, 1955, over 150 million people tuned in to watch the verdict of the O.J. Simpson case. The bizarre details of the murder, the trial, and Simpson’s fame meant that nearly everyone had some kind of emotional attachment to the outcome.
At the time, over 70% of white people polled thought that O.J. Simpson was guilty. However, only about 20% of black people polled felt the same.
In the end, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty. Some of those who thought he was guilty expressed relief at the verdict as they thought it might prevent riots.