In March of 1968 thousands of Chicano students at high schools on the Eastside of Los Angeles walked out of classes to protest inequity and prejudice in the education system. At the time, the Los Angeles Unified School District largely ignored Mexican American history, and Chicano students were forbidden from speaking Spanish and often steered toward vocational careers instead of college, among other problems. The East L.A. Walkouts, or Blowouts, called attention to systemic inequities and ultimately led to improvements in city schools.
On March 1-2, 2018, Cal State LA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the East L.A. Walkouts with a conference featuring panels, guest speakers, a historical photo exhibit and a walk-in to campus by hundreds of LAUSD high school students. Learn more at calstatela.edu/walkin-2018.