Today is Sunday, Dec. 22, the 357th day of 2024. There are nine days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Dec. 22, 1984, New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shot and wounded four young Black men on a Manhattan subway, alleging they were about to rob him. (Goetz was acquitted of attempted murder and assault charges but convicted on a weapons possession charge, ultimately serving eight months of a one-year sentence.)
Also on this date:
In 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of antisemitism. (Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.)
In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected a German demand for surrender, writing “Nuts!” in his official reply.
In 1990, Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN’-sah) took the oath of office as Poland’s first popularly elected president.
In 2001, Richard C. Reid, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tried to ignite explosives in his shoes, but was subdued by flight attendants and fellow passengers. (Reid is serving a life sentence in federal prison.)
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law allowing gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military for the first time in history, repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Today’s Birthdays:
- Actor Hector Elizondo is 88.
- Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is 80.
- Broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer is 79.
- Golf Hall of Famer Jan Stephenson is 73.
- Rapper Luther “Luke” Campbell is 64.
- Actor Ralph Fiennes (rayf fynz) is 62.
- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is 54.
- Singer-actor Jordin Sparks is 35.
- Racing driver Josef Newgarden is 34.
- Rapper DaBaby is 33.
- Pop singer Meghan Trainor is 31.