On this day in 1989, an ethnic Hungarian pastor in Timișoara, Romania spoke out against Ceaușescu’s policies. His words sparked protests at Ceaușescu’s speech five days later, and the riots that broke out led Ceaușescu and his wife to flee. They were captured, then tried and executed on Christmas Day.

You can read about what it was like to live in the U.S. embassy during the Romanian Revolution at the link.