The 1920 Cork hunger strike by Irish republicans ends after three deaths.

The 1920 Cork hunger strike was a pivotal and tragic episode during the Irish War of Independence, underscoring the determination of Irish republicans and drawing global attention to their struggle for independence from British rule. The hunger strike began in Cork Gaol on August 11, 1920, when Terence MacSwiney, the Lord Mayor of Cork, along with two other republicans, Michael Fitzgerald and Joseph Murphy, began refusing food to protest their imprisonment and the harsh treatment of Irish political prisoners. MacSwiney, already a prominent figure in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a symbol of Irish resistance, insisted he would rather die than submit to British authority. Over the next two and a half months, the strike drew widespread attention, inspiring solidarity from Irish communities and political activists worldwide while putting intense pressure on British authorities. Despite public outcry and appeals from international figures, the British government refused to relent, and MacSwiney died after 74 days on hunger strike, on October 25, 1920. His death, followed by those of Fitzgerald and Murphy, intensified anti-British sentiment, bolstering support for the republican cause and furthering the momentum of Ireland’s fight for independence

Ellis Island ceases operations

Ellis Island is a small island located in New York Harbor, near the Statue of Liberty. It played a significant role in American history as the primary entry point for immigrants arriving in the United States from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Immigration Station: Ellis Island served as the main federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954. During this time, over 12 million immigrants passed through its facilities. The majority of these immigrants were coming from Europe, seeking better economic opportunities and escaping political or religious persecution.

Opening and Expansion: The first immigration station on Ellis Island opened on January 1, 1892, replacing the earlier Castle Garden Immigration Depot. The original wooden buildings were soon destroyed by fire, and a new, larger brick and limestone structure was completed in 1900.

Inspection Process: Upon arrival at Ellis Island, immigrants underwent a medical and legal inspection. Medical inspections were conducted to identify and quarantine those with contagious diseases, and legal inspections aimed to determine if individuals met the criteria for admission, such as having a job or a sponsor.

The Great Hall: The Great Hall was the main processing area on Ellis Island, where immigrants were processed and interviewed. It is a large, open room that has been restored and is now part of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Immigration Act of 1924: The Immigration Act of 1924 significantly reduced the number of immigrants allowed into the United States and altered the demographic makeup of those who were admitted. The act imposed quotas based on national origin, favoring immigrants from northern and western Europe over those from southern and eastern Europe.

Closure: Ellis Island’s role as an immigration processing center declined in the 1920s and 1930s, and it eventually closed in 1954. The buildings fell into disrepair until the 1980s when efforts began to restore the island and open it to the public.

National Park Service: Ellis Island is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is administered by the National Park Service. The museum on the island preserves and shares the history of immigration in the United States.

First Balkan War: King George I of Greece makes a triumphal entry into Thessaloniki after its liberation from 482 years of Ottoman rule.

Leon Trotsky is expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, leaving Joseph Stalin in undisputed control of the Soviet Union.

Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Santa Cruz massacre: Indonesian forces open fire on a crowd of student protesters in Dili, East Timor.
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Ellis Island ceased operations.

On this day in 12 November 1954, Ellis Island, the gateway to America, shuts it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892. Today, an estimated 40 percent of all Americans can trace their roots through Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor off the New Jersey coast and named for merchant Samuel Ellis, who owned the land in the 1770s.

On January 2, 1892, 15-year-old Annie Moore, from Ireland, became the first person to pass through the newly opened Ellis Island, which President Benjamin Harrison designated as America’s first federal immigration center in 1890. Before that time, the processing of immigrants had been handled by individual states.

Not all immigrants who sailed into New York had to go through Ellis Island. First- and second-class passengers submitted to a brief shipboard inspection and then disembarked at the piers in New York or New Jersey, where they passed through customs. People in third class, though, were transported to Ellis Island, where they underwent medical and legal inspections to ensure they didn’t have a contagious disease or some condition that would make them a burden to the government. Only two percent of all immigrants were denied entrance into the U.S.

Immigration to Ellis Island peaked between 1892 and 1924, during which time the 3.3-acre island was enlarged with landfill and additional buildings were constructed to handle the massive influx of immigrants. During the busiest year of operation, 1907, over 1 million people were processed at Ellis Island.

Ramzi Yousef is convicted of masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.