Rodian Massacre

The Rodian Massacre was a mass genocide that took place in 15 BBY. The massacre was sanctioned and carried out by the Galactic Empire, as a means to control the planet and "civilize" it, as several Imperial commanders have put it. The massacre has created several Rebel Alliance soldiers, however.

History
Rodia was seen by the Galactic Empire as an unstable and crime-ridden planet, but most theorize that this attitude towards the planet has to do mostly with the Empire's hatred towards non-humans.

The most common justification for the invasion is that Rodia was lawless in the Empire's eyes, and they sought to bring peace to it. Imperial ships landed down on the planet. Most, it not all, Stormtroopers began firing on innocent Rodians, killing most of them. Only a select few survived, most of whom were small children.

Aftermath and Controversy
After the massacre occurred, rumors began to spread throughout the Imperial Senate that the Empire was committing mass genocide on planets useless to them. A distraught Imperial Lieutenant, Theon Olesa, was brought to the stand to calm these rumors down. His failure to maintain composure and speak in articulate sentences made even more Senators highly suspicious. Eventually, the Empire was found out. They made several failed attempts to downplay the situation, but the word was out, and everyone knew what they did. The Rodian Massacre has been a major stain in the Empire's history ever since.