The Lead Up to the East L.A. Walkouts and the Aftermath by Arely Reyes

Brown V. Board of Education 1954

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-17 22:37:58 UTC

This an important event in the lead-up to the walkouts because while the court case outlawed segregation, it however didn't not result in a change for Chicano Communities in East L.A. Therefore, it would create tension and frustration within the community, particularly for the students who would later notice the lack of change occurring within their schools.

L.A. Walkouts 1968

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-17 22:38:06 UTC

The importance of this event is that although the walkouts had no immediate effect in changing conditions for Chicanos in Los Angeles schools, it was the catalyst for the Chicano civil rights movement of that time period. Therefore, it was a source of inspiration for other Chicanos to protest their rights in other areas outside of education similar to the Civil Rights movement of African Americans.

1950s &'60s: Large Population of Chicanos in East Side of Los Angeles that have run-down Schools

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:19:33 UTC

The importance of this is that it set the standard for schools in the East Side of Los Angeles to be consistently lower quality than White Schools. It was a constant injustice that set the groundwork or purpose of the East L.A. Walkouts later on in the timeline of events leading up to it.

During the 1967-1968: Vicky Castro and Paula Crisostomo presents their Demands to the school Board

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:05 UTC

Vicky Castro and Paula Crisostomo presented their demands to the School Board as important because it was the first step in activism by the youth as they highlighted issues like inadequate education and discriminatory practices faced by Mexican-American students. However, the school board did not consider their demands significant because it pushed the group of young activists to develop a new strategy: they would walk out and protest which began the development of the East L.A. Walkouts.

Early 1968: Setting the stage for protests and civil unrest.

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:11 UTC

Overall, early 1968 was a time of deep civil unrest in the U.S. that was rife with antiwar and civil rights protests, which made it a year geared towards different protests that would go on to also include the East L.A. Walkouts. Therefore, it would provide a source of inspiration and guide for other social movements to use to help them organize, which is what Chicanos did in order to protest and demand for their language, history, and culture to be reflected in their schools’ curriculum.

1963: Sal Castro leads the first Chicano Youth Leadership Conference at Camp Hess in Malibu

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:17 UTC

The importance of this conference would inspire and motivate a generation of leaders, including future Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carlos Moreno, and filmmaker Moctesuma Esparza. Additionally, it would also go on to be the catalyst for the East L.A. Walkouts that would be organized by the students in East L.A. high schools.

March 31, 1968: 13 of the walkout organizers- later known as the East L.A.13- were arrested for "conspiracy to disturb the peace."

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:24 UTC

The arrestment of the 13 walkouts demonstrated to the Chicano community of weight behind the walkouts to the point the police were being used to silence and suppress their protests. Therefore, it demonstrated that the walkouts that they were doing had an impact and motivated the movement to keep pushing despite the initial rejections.

March 28, 1968: Community Members supporting students presenting their Demands to the Board of Education

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:29 UTC

This is an important event as it demonstrated that the community was inspired enough to show up for their students when previously it was something that was seen as too aggressive or had come to accept their situations. It showed the Los Angeles Board of Education that the community was in support of the students as they presented their demands, even though the Board of Education ended up denying their demands.

1967: Castro begins to help Students organize to go on strike and walk out of classes.

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-18 23:20:34 UTC

Castro played a role in helping students organize their walkouts because of the fact the students did not have any experience in organizing a strikeout. Therefore, Casto played an important role in ensuring that the walkouts achieved their intended goal, which was a list of demands that included bilingual education, the teaching of Mexican American culture and history, and the hiring of more Latino teachers and administrators.

1967: Creation of United Mexican American Students (UMAS)

sarelyreyes — 2024-12-19 00:49:39 UTC

The importance of the creation of UMAS was that its members, such as Castro, would play a role in helping students from L.A. high schools with Chicanos to organize for the walkouts in 1968. Additionally, UMAS would also be another source that would provide students with confidence in conducting the movement and empowering them to be leaders as well.