Skylab Crashes to Earth……
July 11, 1979…….
The 82-ton U.S. space station, launched in 1973, crashes to earth. About 22 tons of it were expected to survive reentry prompting much public concern. However, it landed safely over the Indian Ocean and Australia. The Shire of Esperance in Western Australia fined NASA $400 for littering.
Newark Race Riots……
July 12, 1967……
The riots in Newark, New Jersey begin. Six days of rioting left 26 dead and 727 injured. The riots were in response to two Newark Police officers who arrested and beat an African American taxi driver. This was one of 159 race riots that swept U.S. cities during the “Long Hot Summer of 1967”.
Live Aid…..
July 13, 1985…….
The pair of concerts, held in Philadelphia and London, attract 1.5 billion TV viewers and raise $120,000,000 to aid the hungry. It was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to provide relief for the 1983-85 Ethiopian famine.
Live Aid was a follow-up to the previous year’s successful charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which was also the brainchild of Geldof and Ure.