1968 STUDENT WALKOUTS

ACTIONS

• Before the 1968 student walkouts, Mexican Americans faced a lot of racial prejudice, such as being called "Dirty Mexicans" and being forced into special education programs invented for those with mental retardation because they did not speak English.
• Because of the substandard education and 50% of Mexican Americans forced out of schools, the students decided to take action

ACTIONS

• After a long time of coordinating the walk out with the teachers and other students, the students left their classes to go to a rally at 9:00 a.m. to protest the lower-level education.
• After 13 notable activists were arrested, they went on a hunger strike in jail, seeing themselves as political prisoners because the charges against them were invalid.

OBSTACLES

• After the first few walkouts took place, a school board meeting was called and the protestors were invited to attend, but the meeting accomplish little and no real commitments were made by the school
• The East L.A. activists arrest was caused by trumped up charges and a ridiculous bail, which were eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

ACHEIVEMENTS

• Shortly after, more Hispanic teachers were hired and academic programs were added for Mexican Americans.
• Eventually, federal courts forced the school board to accept bilingual and bicultural education, and also better test taking methods