<P> Although `` For What It 's Worth '' is often used as an anti-war song , Stephen Stills was inspired to write the track because of the Sunset Strip curfew riots in November 1966 , a series of early counterculture - era clashes that took place between police and young people on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood , California , beginning in mid-1966 , the same year Buffalo Springfield had become the house band at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip . It was within this period local residents and businesses had become annoyed by how crowds of young people going to clubs and music venues along the Strip caused late - night traffic congestion . In response , they lobbied the city to pass local ordinances stopping loitering and enforced a strict curfew on the Strip after 10pm . Young music fans , however , felt the new laws infringed their civil rights . </P>
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inspired to write the track because of the Sunset Strip curfew riots in November 1966 , a series of early counterculture - era clashes that took place between police and young people on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood , California , beginning in mid-1966 , the same year Buffalo Springfield had become the house band at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip . It was within this period local residents and businesses had become annoyed by how crowds of young people going to clubs and music venues along the Strip caused late - night traffic congestion . In response , they lobbied the city to pass local ordinances stopping loitering and enforced a strict curfew on the Strip after 10pm . Young music fans , however , felt the new laws infringed their civil rights