Our grandparents didn’t always protest what we might expect—they took a stand against some truly bizarre causes, making history in ways we didn’t even know they had a voice in.
1. ‘Boys Liberation’

“Barry Obama and friends protesting against homework (1970s).”
2. End of the Line

“Pig masks worn to protest end of train service between Weehauken NJ and Albany NY, 1955.”
3. Crossing Off

“Mothers protest the possible layoff of school crossing guard (Staten Island, 1991).”
4. ‘The Bear Will Live Again and Forever’

“Protesting the demolition of The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA (1984). The club hosted acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin and The Doors.”
5. Nudist Censord’

“Nudist protesting at the University of Sydney, 1938.”
6. ‘Wake Up, Hef’

“Bunnies on strike in Chicago, 1975.”
7. Lighting Up

“’Torches of Freedom Parade’ 1929: Women march down 5th Avenue in New York smoking cigarettes (in public!) to protest discrimination against females openly using tobacco.”
8. Bottoms Up

“My gg grandma/aunts protesting (?) prohibition in Mississippi in the mid-late 1920s.”
9. Bermuda Shorted

“City College students protest ‘Bermuda’ shorts ban”, Los Angeles, April 24, 1958.”
10. Climbing Up

“The Battle of the Elms, Stockholm 1971. Citizens protest the trees being cut down to make way for a subway station entry. The citizens won.”
11. ‘Peanuts’ Prohibition

“A 1965 protest to bring ‘Peanuts’ back to a local Sunday newspaper.”
12. ‘We’ve Got Everything Blondes Have’

“Women protesting at the premiere of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ in front of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (1953).”
13. ‘We Want Beer’

“Men protesting Prohibition c. 1925.”
14. Hair-Raising

“’Longhaired’ Palisades High School students protest school’s demand that they get haircuts, Los Angeles, California, March 7, 1966.”
15. ‘Bring Back Bert’

“Preschoolers and mothers march in front of the CKWS-TV station protesting the cancellation of Sesame Street, Kingston, Ontario, 1972.”
16. ‘Long Hair Is Communism’

“Anti-Hippie Rally in the ’60s.”