Panama celebrated Martyrs' Day , 1964 Canal riots Jan 9th, where most business were closes, all the bars were not permitted to sell alchol in memberance of the group of 23 Panamanian teenagers died when they went  to a U.S. school near the U.S.-controlled Canal Zone to hang a Panamanian flag.
The riot started after a Panamanian flag was torn during conflict between Panamanian students and Canal Zone Police officers, over the right of the Panamanian flag to be flown alongside the U.S. flag.U.S. Army units became involved in suppressing the violence after Canal Zone police were overwhelmed, and after three days of fighting, about 21 Panamanians and four U.S. soldiers were killed. The incident is considered to be a significant factor in the U.S. decision to transfer control of the Canal Zone to Panama through the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

 

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