Today is Saturday, May 17, the 137th day of 2025. There are 228 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On May 17, 1954, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, which held that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional.
Also on this date:
In 1792, the Buttonwood Agreement, a document codifying rules for securities trading, was signed by 24 New York stockbrokers, marking the formation of the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was held; the race was won by Aristides, ridden by jockey Oliver Lewis.
In 1946, President Harry S. Truman seized control of the nation’s railroads, delaying — but not preventing — a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.
In 1973, a special committee convened by the U.S. Senate began its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal.
In 1980, rioting that claimed 18 lives erupted in Miami after an all-white jury in Tampa acquitted four former Miami police officers of fatally beating Black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie.
In 1987, 37 American sailors were killed when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq apologized for the attack, calling it a mistake, and paid more than $27 million in compensation.)
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to allow same-sex marriages.
In 2015, a shootout erupted between members of motorcycle clubs and police outside a restaurant in Waco, Texas, leaving nine of the bikers dead and 20 people injured.
Today’s Birthdays:
- Musician Taj Mahal is 83.
- Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard is 69.
- Sports announcer Jim Nantz is 66.
- Singer-composer Enya is 64.
- TV host-comedian Craig Ferguson is 63.
- Musician Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is 60.
- Actor Sasha Alexander is 52.
- Basketball Hall of Famer Tony Parker is 43.
- Screenwriter-actor-producer Lena Waithe is 41.
- Dancer-choreographer Derek Hough is 40.
- Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan is 40.
- Actor Nikki Reed is 37.