US Secretary of State calls for release of Americans detained in Iran News
© WikiMedia (Michael Coghlan)
US Secretary of State calls for release of Americans detained in Iran

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Tuesday for the humanitarian release of Americans unlawfully detained in Iran amidst growing concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iranian prisons. Pompeo warned that the US would hold Tehran responsible if any of the citizens died from COVID-19, stating “our response will be decisive.”

Pompeo later alleged that the Americans’ continued detention under these conditions “defies basic human decency,” citing the Iranian government’s recent release of 70,000 other prisoners due to the outbreak. Although Iran currently has more than 8,000 COVID-19 cases with the most virus-related deaths outside of China, Pompeo urged other nations to withhold humanitarian assistance until all wrongly detained citizens are released.

Currently, there are at least four Americans imprisoned in Iran, but none have been granted temporary furloughs despite the finding that fellow prisoners had tested positive for COVID-19.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

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On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.