Strike!

The year 1968 was a turbulent time of social change in the United States. All over the country, people held demonstrations. They stood up for civil rights. They fought against racial discrimination. In East Los Angeles, California, Mexican American students felt frustrated because their high schools were crowded and second rate. As a result, many students dropped out. Few students went to college. So, students banded together to fight for quality schools. They wanted equal treatment and a better education. At first, their principals ignored them. The Board of Education ignored the students, too. Therefore, on March 3rd, 1968, students at Garfield High School walked out. They took to the streets to protest. Soon, they inspired more than 20,000 students at other schools to join them. The "walkout" was the largest such demonstration in US history! Adults could no longer ignore the students. Finally, the Board of Education made changes. And many of the students went on to college.