Ojai Pergola on the left, California
Ojai Hippie Riots
In the small picturesque town or Ojai, California, the Summer of Love almost turned into the Summer of Riots…
The hippies had begun to flock to Ojai after a couple concerts were held in the towns Civic Center Park, later renamed Libbey Park. When the shows ended the party kept on going.
The conservative small town overnight was over run by the summer of love. The hippies had all but taken over the Ojai Pergola, stone arches leading to Civic Park, after one of the love-in’s held in the park in early ’67.
‘hippies’ hanging out on Ojai Pergola, 1967
The conservative local “short hairs” of the town didn’t take too kindly to this new invasion of flower power hanging around town. With tensions building between both groups, the town was facing an all out war.
In early June as the summer heated up the conflict, everyone knew something had to be done, but what?
Hippies hanging out on the Ojai Pergola had an idea… Climbing high on the arch’s someone posted a sign for all to see. The message was clear…
“Things go better with pot”
The strange message would instantly infuriate the ‘short hairs’, including the authorities and lead to weeks of fighting in what would be known as the ‘Ojai Riots’.
While the short lived battles in the streets of Ojai during the summer of 1967 have been long forgotten, the spirit of the obscure battle cry that ignited the war continues to burn!
graffiti on wood fence in Ojai, California