The Chaotic 1970 "Invasion" That Tried To Close Disneyland's Doors For Good
Over the course of American history, no war has generated more controversy than the country's ten-year involvement in Vietnam. The crisis of confidence that emerged during this period rattled the nation to its core, and as the war raged on endlessly and purposelessly for a decade, many Americans turned on the very values and institutions they'd once believed made the country so great. With unrest spreading across the United States like wildfire by 1970, it was only a matter of time before trouble came knocking at Disneyland's door.
The Vietnam War
For decades, the United States' decision to engage in the Vietnam War generated intense debate. With many protesting military drafts for young men and others questioning what America was doing there in the first place, the 1960s saw a rise in anti-war protest movements. Soon enough, Disneyland would be swept up in the chaos.
Joining The Fight
At the forefront of this anti-war protest action was the ever-controversial Youth International Party, a political organization that exhibited a range of provocative views. Yet these weren't just a bunch of angry kids marching the streets — some had gone as far as labeling them an extremist group.
Origin Of The Yippies
Formed in 1967 by Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman, the Youth International Party was a far-left group that openly expressed anti-capitalism, anti-war, and anti-establishment beliefs. But their views weren't the only thing that was controversial. This group would go on to carry out a number of outrageous public stunts, generating a media frenzy.
Disrupting The Status Quo
In 1967, Hoffman and over a dozen of his supporters stormed into the visitors' gallery of the New York Stock Exchange, where they proceeded to scatter dollar bills across the trading floor. What's more, the Yippies (a nickname for Youth International Party members) decided to nominate Pigasus, a 145-pound pig, for president at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Soon, they set their sights on another symbol of America.
