The North Dakota Zap-In, 1969

May 1969: Responding to a suggestion in the North Dakota State University paper that students "Zip to Zap" to stage a "Zap-In" in Zap, North Dakota (population: 300), 3000 young people descended on the town. The Zap-In soon descended into chaos, prompting the mayor to summon the National Guard to remove the students.

According to wikipedia, the event was "the only official riot in the history of North Dakota that was put down by the National Guard."

More info: Minot Daily News

Bismarck Tribune - May 10, 1969

Bismarck Tribune - Aug 7, 1969

Students gather around the bonfire built in the middle of Zap's Main Street
source: North Dakota Digital Horizons

The National Guard in Zap
source: North Dakota Historical Society

Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 17, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Dinners, Banquets, Parties, Tributes, Roasts and Other Celebrations, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, 1960s

The College Stripper Riot of 1955

The history of monkey-wrenching university protocols did not begin in the 1960s.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 05, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Education, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Burlesque, Exotic Dancing, Stripping and Other Forms of Staged Nakedness, 1950s, Pranks

“Goodbye, Three Mile Island”

With Chernobyl in the news again, perhaps we need to revive this song.

Gary and the Outriders, a local music group, recorded an original song, "Goodbye T.M.I. (The Ballad of Three Mile Island)," and released it as a 45 rpm record. Its catchy melody contrasts with its dire refrain: "Goodbye, goodbye to your life, T.M.I."

Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 19, 2022 - Comments (4)
Category: Music, Regionalism, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1970s

Alitalia Public Stripping Protest

Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 26, 2021 - Comments ()
Category: Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Public Indecency, Air Travel and Airlines, Europe

The Tight Pants Strike of 1966

The media called it the Tight Pants Strike. Also, the Battle of the Bulge.

In 1966, 35-year-old Pat Morris was working at International Paper’s plywood plant in Oregon when management suspended her on account of her tight-fitting pants, complaining that they were too distracting for male workers. Morris protested that other female workers were also wearing tight jeans. Nevertheless, according to her, “They said something about being too stacked and sent me home.” (Almost every paper in the country felt obliged to report that her measurements were 39-27-39.)

Even though she wasn’t in the union, the 315 union members at the plant promptly went on strike in protest, claiming that the suspension was illegal. The strike lasted a week, until Morris was allowed back to her job, wearing looser jeans.

(left) Cincinnati Enquirer - Aug 26, 1966; (right) Esquire - Jan 1967

New York Daily News - Sep 4, 1966

Redlands Daily Facts - Aug 31, 1966

Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin - Sep 1, 1966

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 21, 2019 - Comments (2)
Category: Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Tradesmen, Manual Laborers, and Skilled Workers, 1960s

Blood Painting

In Culver City, California, artist Illma Gore is painting a canvas with human blood to protest the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump. She's working with 20 pints of blood donated by artists, musicians, and activists.



I'm sensing that weird stuff people do to protest Trump will be a prolific theme in weird news during the next four years.

More info: abc7.com

Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 13, 2017 - Comments (7)
Category: Art, Politics, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience

Striking Santas

La Crosse Tribune - Dec 18, 1966

Hazleton Standard-Speaker - Nov 24, 1990

Posted By: Alex - Sun Dec 25, 2016 - Comments ()
Category: Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Christmas

Joel Slater, the Stateless Man

It's pretty common to hear people say that they're so disgusted with American politics that they're going to move to Canada and renounce their U.S. citizenship... especially if candidate X or Y wins the election. But people almost never follow through with this threat/promise.

But Joel Slater did. Back in the Reagan era (1987), he became so angry at U.S. policies that he decided to renounce his American citizenship. The problem was that he did this without first arranging to acquire citizenship in another country. So he made himself stateless.

He was in Australia when he renounced his citizenship, and had assumed he would be able to stay there. But no, Australia promptly deported him to the U.S. Then, as a stateless person, he discovered that he was effectively trapped in the U.S. because he couldn't travel anywhere else without a passport. He managed to make it into Canada and Mexico a few times without a passport, but they both eventually shipped him back to the States. He also couldn't legally work without a social security number. So he became homeless, surviving on "odd jobs and the generosity of strangers."

After much begging and pleading, he was able to regain his U.S. citizenship in 1993.

More info: wikipedia

Slater showing off his "Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States"
Source: Arizona Republic - Mar 17, 1991

Indianapolis Star - Nov 27, 1992

Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 04, 2016 - Comments (7)
Category: Politics, Reformers, Do-gooders, Agitators and SJWs, Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, 1980s

Half Fast

Here's one for the Completely Useless Forms of Political Protest file: Mildred Ruth Gordon and her every-other-day fast.

According to wikipedia, "The effort to enforce Selective Service registration law was abandoned in 1986."

I wonder if she kept up her protest that long.

Los Angeles Times - Sep 7, 1982

Posted By: Alex - Sat May 07, 2016 - Comments (2)
Category: Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, 1980s

Staging a Left-olution

Today's post features a bunch of sinister, leftist radicals, in honor of International Left Handers Day (August 13).



Also, check out the Bill of Lefts.

Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 13, 2015 - Comments (6)
Category: Riots, Protests and Civil Disobedience, Video, Poetry