How a pig and dollar bills became tools of political warfare

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1968, the Yippies didn't just protest; they staged theatrical disruptions. From nominating a pig for president to showering the New York Stock Exchange with cash, this radical movement used absurdity to mock the American status quo and challenge the very idea of political ideology.

Founded on December 31, 1967, in a New York apartment, the Youth International Party—better known as the Yippies—emerged as a radical, anarchist offshoot of the anti-war and free speech movements. The group's name was a strategic creation: while Paul Krassner is credited with coining the 'Yippie' label to signify the radicalization of hippies, Anita Hoffman suggested 'Youth International Party' to provide a more formal veneer that the mainstream press would take seriously.

The Yippies operated without a formal hierarchy or membership, relying instead on 'symbolic politics' and guerrilla theater. Their tactics were designed to provoke and parody. They famously nominated a pig named 'Pigasus the Immortal' as a presidential candidate during the 1968 election and once disrupted the New York Stock Exchange by raining dollar bills onto the trading floor. Their visual identity was equally provocative; their flag featured a red star and a green cannabis leaf on a black background, symbolizing anarchy, their political program, and ecological 'stoning'.

This brand of 'street theater' often placed them at odds with the 'Old Left,' who viewed their pranks with disdain. However, the movement's most significant impact occurred during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, where leaders trained demonstrators to confront police lines. The political fallout culminated in the 1969 Chicago Seven trial, where high-profile figures like Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin used the courtroom as a stage, even appearing in judicial robes to further their anti-authoritarian mission.

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