The Human Be-In rally that touched off the Summer of Love in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on 14 January 1967 may have been a psychedelic, hippy-dippy, drug-addled, free-love, damn-the-man love-fest, but it did have one thing going for it: a permit.
“The Summer of Love was an incredible moment in our city’s history and its message of peace and love is more important than ever,” the department wrote (in regard to its rejection of proposed 50th anniversary celebration of the Be-In), citing concerns over safety before adding: “We cannot put the public at risk and grant a permit for your proposed event.”
The denial is a major setback for Boots Hughston, who had been planning to host a free day-long concert featuring, among others, Eric Burdon and War, Country Joe McDonald, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane. Hughston, who previously organized a 40th anniversary Summer of Love concert, had hoped to secure an appearance by the Dalai Lama to this year’s celebration but, he said, “his holiness was booked in LA”.
More at:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/16/san-francisco-summer-of-love-concert-permit-denied
