History Unfolds on July 12
July 12 in History: Disco Demolition Riot, Tax Amendment, and Rolling Stones Debut
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On July 12, 1979, one of baseball's strangest nights unfolded at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The White Sox held a promotion called "Disco Demolition Night" — and it ended in a riot that forced the team to forfeit a game, according to Union Bulletin.
The event was organized by local radio DJ Steve Dahl, who hated disco music. Fans paid 98 cents to get in if they brought a disco record to be blown up on the field. Tens of thousands showed up. After the explosion, the crowd stormed the field and refused to leave, according to WFMZ.
How a Baseball Promotion Became a Full-Scale Riot
The White Sox were playing a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers that night. Between games, Dahl detonated a crate of disco records in center field. The explosion tore a hole in the grass. Fans then poured onto the field by the thousands, according to KULR8.
The scene was chaotic. Fans lit bonfires, tore up the bases, and refused to clear the field. Chicago police arrested 39 people. The field was too damaged to play the second game, so American League officials ruled a forfeit in favor of Detroit. It remains one of the few forfeits in modern Major League Baseball history.
The Medal of Honor and the 16th Amendment: Two Historic July 12ths
July 12 marks several key moments in American history. On this date in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill creating the Army Medal of Honor. It became the nation's highest military award, according to Journal Gazette.
Nearly 50 years later, on July 12, 1909, the House of Representatives voted to pass the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment gave Congress the power to collect a federal income tax. The Senate had already passed it. States then ratified it, and it took effect in 1913, according to Journal Gazette.
Rolling Stones' First Show and Ferraro's Historic VP Nod
On July 12, 1962, a young band called the Rolling Stones played their very first concert at the Marquee Club in London. Few could have guessed they would become one of the biggest rock bands in history, according to Union Bulletin.
Exactly 21 years later, on July 12, 1983, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale made history. He announced U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York as his running mate. She became the first woman ever chosen for a major party's presidential ticket in American history, according to Journal Gazette.
Twitter Sued Elon Musk to Force a $44 Billion Deal
July 12, 2022 brought a major legal fight in the tech world. Twitter filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk to stop him from walking away from his $44 billion deal to buy the company. Musk had tried to back out of the agreement, according to WFMZ.
Twitter argued that Musk had no valid reason to exit the deal. The case went to Delaware court. Musk ultimately completed the purchase in October 2022 for the original $44 billion price. He renamed the platform X the following year.
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