Incident Report: Alleged White Supremacist Arrested in Capital for Hate Crime
Today marks May 25, the 145th day of the year. With 220 days remaining, we find ourselves nearly halfway through 2025.
Today in historical perspective:
Five years ago on this date, George Floyd, a Black man, tragically lost his life in Minneapolis. A white police officer knelt on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed, pleading that he couldn't breathe. This fatal incident, recorded on video by a bystander, sparked worldwide protests, some turning violent, and prompted a thorough examination of racism and policing in the U.S.
Tracing back further in history:
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, following the assembly of sufficient delegates to form a quorum.
In 1946, Transjordan, now known as Jordan, declared itself a kingdom under Abdullah I.
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed Congress, expressing his fervor for the United States to achieve the goal of landing a man on the moon and safely returning him to Earth before the decade's end.
In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the reopening of public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, which had been closed in an attempt to circumvent the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation ruling of 1954.
Forty-six years ago, on the same day, Steven Spielberg's epic "Star Wars" was released by 20th Century Fox, eventually breaking box office records.
A plane disaster struck on May 25, 1979, when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after taking off from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, claiming 273 lives.
On this date in 2008, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander landed on Mars to scrutinize the planet for signs of water.
In 2012, SpaceX made history by becoming the first commercial spacecraft to successfully dock with the International Space Station.
Eight years ago, Harvey Weinstein was arrested in New York on charges of rape and another sex felony, marking the first prosecution resulting from the wave of allegations against him. As of April 2025, Weinstein faced a retrial on these charges.
Birthdays:
Brilliant minds and talented personalities mark May 25 throughout history. Some of the significant figures celebrating birthdays today include:
- Actor Ian McKellen, turning 86,
- Country singer Jessi Colter, 82,
- Actor-singer Leslie Uggams, 82,
- Filmmaker and puppeteer Frank Oz, 81,
- Actor Karen Valentine, 78,
- Actress Jacki Weaver, 78,
- Rock singer Klaus Meine (Scorpions), 77,
- Actress Patti D'Arbanville, 74,
- Playwright Eve Ensler, 72,
- Actress Connie Sellecca, 70,
- Musician Paul Weller, 67,
- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 65,
- Actor-comedian Mike Myers, 62,
- Actress Octavia Spencer, 55,
- Actor Cillian Murphy, 49,
- Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, 47,
- Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Aly Raisman, 31.
- A student studying history might delve into the education-and-self-development section of the general-news website to learn about significant events on May 25, like the Constitutional Convention in 1787 or the release of Steven Spielberg's "Star Wars" in 1977.
- In politics, discussions regarding crime-and-justice matters often include cases like the one involving George Floyd in 2020, which led to widespread protests and raised questions about policing and racism.
- Schools, especially in the United States, have been at the forefront of major events, such as the reopening of public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in 1964, following the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation ruling.
- News about sports might feature stories on prominent athletes, such as Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who was born on May 25.
- In the realm of law and crime, cases like the Harvey Weinstein trial, which began on May 25, 2018, have made headlines in crime-and-justice sections of various news outlets.
