John and Yoko Hold Their First ‘Bed-In for Peace’ — Today in History

It's a cold, rainy day in New York today; just in time to re-enact John and Yoko's stunt on its anniversary. 

On March 25, 1969, Lennon and Ono took advantage of the huge amount of press that they were receiving for their marriage, and used it to promote world peace. They spent their honeymoon in the presidential suite of Manhattan's Amsterdam Hotel, and stayed in bed for a week straight.

Members of the press were invited to visit and document the protest between the hours of 9am and 9pm. After the release of their album 'Two Virgins,' (NSFW) many expected this protest to be sexual in nature, but nope; just a whole lot of sittin' around in bed, talkin' about peace, and presumably smoking illegal things. The couple hung two signs over the bed which read: "Hair Peace" and "Bed Peace." ...That's why I mentioned the illegal things.

After the stunt, the couple sent acorns to the heads of state of several countries around the world, hoping that they would plant them as a sign of peace. They were not granted any of the meetings they requested. When asked if he thought that his protest was successful, in light of the press' humorous take on it, he responded:  "It's part of our policy not to be taken seriously. Our opposition, whoever they may be, in all manifest forms, don't know how to handle humour. And we are humorous."

The entire story is documented in 'The Ballad of John and Yoko,' listen here:

What would today's version of this look like? Call me a little jaded, but somehow I feel less inspired by the idea of Jay-Z and Beyonce camping out in the W Hotel in their silk pj's, rallying to keep extra-large sodas in New York.