Today in History: December 22, French Jewish army captain unjustly convicted of treason

"On Dec. 22, 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of antisemitism. (Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.) Also on this date: 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! as his official one-word reply. Allied forces, at a heavy cost, would decisively turn back the Germans' last major offensive on the western front in Europe."

"In 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, a white man in what became known as the Subway Vigilante case, was later acquitted of attempted murder and assault charges but convicted on a weapons possession charge and served eight months of a one-year sentence.) In 1990, Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN'-sah) took the oath of office as Poland's first popularly elected president."

On Dec. 22, 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of antisemitism; Dreyfus was later vindicated. In 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected a German surrender demand with the one-word reply "Nuts!", and Allied forces turned back Germany's last major western offensive. In 1984 Bernhard Goetz shot and wounded four young Black men on a Manhattan subway; he was acquitted of attempted murder and assault but convicted on a weapons charge and served eight months. In 1990 Lech Walesa became Poland's first popularly elected president. In 2001 Richard C. Reid attempted to ignite explosives in his shoes on a flight and was subdued; he is serving a life sentence. In 2010 the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" allowed gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military. In 2018 a 34-day federal government shutdown began over funding disputes including a proposed border wall. Birthdays include actor Hector Elizondo (89) and Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.

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