Today is Saturday, December 20, the 354th day of 2025. There are 11 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On December 20, 1986, three black men were attacked by a group of white youths in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens, New York, leading to the death of one of the men, Michael Griffith.
Also on this date:
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was officially transferred from France to the United States.
In 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union based on votes of delegates at the Secession Convention, encouraging other Southern states to follow suit and helping spark the American Civil War.
In 1946, the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater in New York City.
In 1987, more than 4,300 people were killed when the Philippine passenger ship Dona Paz (DOHN’-yuh pahz) collided with the tanker Victor off the island of Mindoro.
In 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to overthrow the government of General Manuel Noriega.
In 1995, American Airlines Flight 965 from Miami to Cali, Colombia, crashed into a mountain near Boga, Colombia, at night while landing in the Cali area, killing all but four of the 163 passengers and crew.
In 2019, the US Space Force was created when President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
In 2024, a car crashed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, killing six people and injuring more than 200. The suspect, who was arrested, was a doctor originally from Saudi Arabia, who had expressed anti-Muslim views and support on social media for a far-right party.
Today’s birthdays:
- Rock drummer Peter Criss (Kiss) turns 80.
- Producer Dick Wolf (“Law & Order”) is 79 years old.
- Musician Alan Parsons is 77 years old.
- Author Sandra Cisneros is 71 years old.
- Actor Michael Badalucco is 71 years old.
- Rock singer Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) is 59 years old.
- Director Todd Phillips is 55 years old.
- Actor Jonah Hill is 42 years old.
- Footballer Kylian Mbappe is 27 years old.