On this day: December 19
College basketball game abandoned after fans riot and storm court, Dec. 19, 1979
On December 19, 1979, a college basketball game was abandoned after fans rioted and stormed the court, forcing officials to end play and police to restore order. The incident reflected growing tensions around sports events and campus security at the time.
Charles Dickens Publishes A Christmas Carol
On December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens’s novella A Christmas Carol was published in London, quickly becoming a popular and influential work that helped shape Victorian ideas about Christmas, charity, and social reform.
House Votes to Impeach President Bill Clinton
On December 19, 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton—perjury before a grand jury and obstruction of justice—marking the second presidential impeachment in American history.
Charles Manson Sentenced to Life in Prison
On December 19, 1971, Charles Manson was sentenced to life imprisonment after a California court reaffirmed his conviction for first-degree murder and conspiracy in the 1969 Tate–LaBianca killings; the death sentences for Manson and several followers had been previously overturned.
China and Britain Sign Joint Declaration Setting Hong Kong Handover for 1997
On December 19, 1984, China and Britain signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, agreeing that sovereignty over Hong Kong would transfer from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China on July 1, 1997, under a “one country, two systems” framework preserving Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life for 50 years.
Bombing at European Christmas market kills dozens, wounds many
On December 19, 2016, a bomb exploded amid Christmas shoppers at a popular European market, killing and injuring multiple people and prompting international condemnation and an urgent investigation.