The 1970s were a wild time for Disneyland. The park opened two of its most famous rides: Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Iconic but old-fashioned attractions closed their doors, including the Carousel of Progress and Flight to the Moon. And of course…there was that one protest that shut down Disneyland five hours early.
Source: Atlas Obscura
First, who were the protestors?
Meet the “Yippies”, members of the Youth International Party. This group of activists, primarily made up of college students, were known for public and theatrical protests against war, capitalism, and various corporations and establishments.
Source: Daveland Web
Next, what were they protesting?
On August 6, 1970, the 25th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, Yippies staged a Vietnam war protest in Disneyland. However, their purpose evolved into a really convoluted combination of different social issues:
- Protest Disneyland’s partnership with Bank of America, which Yippies proclaimed a virtual sponsor of the Vietnam War
- Establish free admission for all to Disneyland
- “Liberate” Minnie Mouse
- Wage increases for Native American performers
- Transformation of Aunt Jemima’s into a Black Panthers restaurant (NOT the superhero, in case that’s what you were thinking!)
Leading up to August 6, the group distributed advertisements featuring Disney characters with weapons or engaging in lewd acts, and promised to “infiltrate” Tom Sawyer Island.
Source: Hub Pages
And finally, what happened?
Well, since the Yippies heavily promoted the protest, Disney and police were both alerted ahead of time, and police increased their presence in the park (some newspapers claimed thousands of protestors would show up). In the end, only a few hundred protestors came to Disneyland, and didn’t do much for the first half of the day besides smoke pot and chant. Most notably, Minnie Mouse was not “liberated”, which protestors announced would happen at noon in front of the castle.
Things finally started escalating when the Yippies attempted to gather on Tom Sawyer Island. Protestors hung the Viet Cong flag and continued chanting. But after a while, they returned to mainland Disneyland and began a march down Main Street toward the Bank of America building. At this point, they became aggressive. Some protestors tore pieces off City Hall and began fighting with regular park visitors, at which point the police intervened.
Source: Atlas Obscura
The park closed for the day, and 23 of the protestors were arrested for various charges, mostly disturbing the peace and drug possession. The Yippies did not accomplish any of their goals from the protest (which also strangely included a plan to roast Porky Pig…who isn’t a Disney character), nor did they persuade Disneyland to end their partnership with Bank of America. They did, however, go down in history, causing one of the strangest days in the park’s lifetime.
Source: Huffington Post
I was there the day Disneyland closed due to the Yippies disturbance. Well, isn’t that interesting of you former Yippies to boast about what you did that day. While you were having “fun” , our family’s fun was spoiled as we were forced out of the park My three siblings and I were so sad and didn’t understand why we had to leave and cut the day that we had been planning for months , You all owe us something for that as well as Disneyland for all the refunds they gave out. Can you say “reparations”???
I was there at Fort Wilderness. Besides the National Liberation Front of Vietnam flag, I have a photo of a flag with a marijuana leaf superimposed. I also have a photo of a character Sheriff protecting the US flag by standing next to the flagpole and not allowing anyone to take it down. I thought him very brave.
It was a fun time for me that day. I hurt no one and enjoyed being chased around by the police in the parking lot. I was 22. Years after, I was denied admission because of my long hair.
Nice review. I’m the guy who raised the flag of the National Liberation Front of Vietnam (Viet Cong), over Fort Wilderness.