Sunset Strip curfew riots
The Sunset Strip curfew riots, also known as the "hippie riots," were a series of clashes that took place between police and young people on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California, beginning in the mid-1960s and continuing through the early 1970s.
In 1966, annoyed residents and business owners in the district had encouraged the passage of strict (10:00pm) curfew and loitering laws to reduce the traffic congestion resulting from crowds of young club patrons.[1] This was perceived by young, local rock music fans as an infringement on their civil rights, and on Saturday, November 12, 1966, fliers were distributed along the Strip inviting people to demonstrate later that day.
Hours before the protest one of L.A's rock 'n' roll radio stations announced there would be a rally at Pandora's Box, a club at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights, and cautioned people to tread carefully.[2] The Times reported that as many as 1,000 youthful demonstrators, including such celebrities as Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda (who was afterward handcuffed by police), erupted in protest against the perceived repressive enforcement of these recently invoked curfew laws.
This provided the basis for the teen exploitation film Riot on Sunset Strip, and inspired multiple songs:
- "For What It's Worth," performed by Buffalo Springfield, which is often mistakenly labelled an antiwar protest song[3]
- "Plastic People," by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
- "Daily Nightly," performed by The Monkees
- "Riot on Sunset Strip," performed by The Standells
- "Open Up the Box Pandora," performed by The Jigsaw Seen
See also [edit]
- Ernest E. Debs, mid-20th century Los Angeles County supervisor who represented the district and fought against the counterculture
References [edit]
- ^ Rasmussen, Cecilia (2007-08-05). "Closing of club ignited the `Sunset Strip riots'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Priore, Domenic (2007). Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Roll's Last Stand in Hollywood. Jawbone Press. ISBN 978-1-906002-04-6.
- ^ "Show 34 – Revolt of the Fat Angel: American musicians respond to the British invaders. [Part 2] : UNT Digital Library". digital.library.unt.edu. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
- Wild streets: American Graffiti versus the Cold War International Socialism Journal, Issue 91, 2001
- "Stephen Stills' Song: For What It's Worth." November 3, 2009.
- [1] OR FLASHBACK – War on the Sunset Strip, Daddio!"
