Tensions have been growing between the residents of the elegant homes north of Washington Square and the young crowd settling South of the park. These tensions culminated when Park Commissioner Newbold Morris refused to grant folk signers permits to perform in the park. Morris’ new policy sparked a colossal protest movement. Folk singers saw this refusal as an unjustified violation of their natural rights. In response they organized a protest on April 9^th. The turnout that the protest drew surprised even the organizers according to Israel Young. When police took actions to clear the singers from the fountain, where they had settled and were singing, they were met with great resistance and numerous scuffles broke out. At the end of the day the police had regained control of the park and ten demonstrators were arrested and several injured.

In the wake of this riot it seemed as if everyone had taken sides.  It created a sharp division between those who supported the singers and those who supported the banning of the singers from the park.  Those against the folk singers argued that they were disruptive and drawing large crowds that were destroying the park, which made it impossible to relax in the park. Those in favor of the folk singers argued that the folk singers had as much right to sing in the park as did anyone to sit in the park and that the large crowds were good for businesses in the Village. While the courts and Mayor Wagner supported Morris’ ban the folk singers gained support as well including Rev. Howard Moody, pastor of Judson Memorial Church, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. The Folk singers continued to plan demonstrations including their rally in Judson Memorial Church, Protesting by singing a capella, and performing a musical criticizing Morris, on Thompson Street just outside the park. In the end all of their efforts have paid off. Mayor Wagner recently devised a compromise plan in which the folk singers would get free run of the park from the fountain to the arch between 3 and 6 pm. Sunday afternoons in the park are much like they were prior to Morris’ ban revealing that the folk singers are not going anywhere anytime soon.

For more information contact me at kcbarry@hunter.cuny.edu for my paper, The Folk Riot of 1961: The Perfect Embodiment of the Rebellious Spirit of the 60’s.