by Jake Gordon
On Thursday, March 18, SIATech Los Angelesstudents had the privilege of learning from two local activists that participated in the historic 1968 East Los Angeles student walk-outs.
SIATech staff member Genevieve Perez and longtime friend Bobby Verdugo(pictured) shared their stories of what it was like to participate in the protests and how it shaped their lives as community activists. Their presentation was part of Dr. Vanessa Ochoa’s Sociology class entitled “Chicana History and Identity” at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles.
Student Patrice Acosta commented, “I really loved it (the presentation). I never learned in school about my people’s history here in Los Angeles.”
The student-led walk-outs, also known as the 1968 Chicano Blowouts, were several protests amongst the five East Los Angeles High Schools that included Belmont, Roosevelt, Garfield, Lincoln, and Jefferson High School.
Their demands were simple; more Latino teachers and administrators at their schools, bi-lingual and bi-cultural education, improved school facilities, and the inclusion of Mexican-American history into school text books. Thousands of students participated in the series of walk-outs between March and October of 1968 demanding that the Los Angeles school board improve the conditions of their schools.
Student Yajaira Arauz reflected that, “The presentation made me realize that even if we don’t know we are making history, we can do it if we put our minds to it. The presentation today gave me the courage to speak up and be successful in life. The presentation also made me realize things have gotten better with more Latino teachers today in our schools but there still must be more done to improve our schools. Most students that go to these schools on the east side don’t know the history of their own communities which still needs to improve.”
Bobby Verdugo’s experiences as a high school youth participant in the walk-outs were even documented in the Hollywood movie, Walkout. Actor Efren Ramirez played Bobby Verdugo alongside other Hollywood actors Michael Pena and Alexa Vega. The movie was directed by Edward James Olmos and executively produced by Moctezuma Esparza.
The film was released on March 18, 2006 which inspired Colorado high school students to walk out of their schools that same year protesting H.R. 4437 which attempted to make it a felony to be in the United States as an undocumented immigrant.
Below is an interview with SIATech staff member Genevieve Perez.
Jake Gordon (JG): What was it like to participate in the walk-outs?
Genevieve Perez (GP): It was scary for me but we had to do it. We didn’t know what was going to happen to us from walking out of school but we did it anyways. The administrators locked the gates and we saw the police outside waiting for us. A lot of students climbed over the fence only to be met by the police and arrested and beaten. It felt good that people were finally listening to us and that our demands were being met.
JG: What kind of conditions were you upset with the most in your school that made you want to walk out?
GP: I was very upset with how the counselors treated us. I wanted to go into the medical field but my counselor told me that I couldn’t do it and wasn’t smart enough. I was put into vocational training classes and classes for the mentally retarded similar to what Bobby was talking about during his part of the presentation. I was also very upset with the teachers that would punish us for speaking Spanish in class. It never happened to me but some of my friends who were punished for speaking Spanish in class were taken into the school basement and spanked with a wooden paddle. Those were some of the conditions I was most upset about.
JG: How did the walk-outs impact your life as a high school student and as an adult?
GP: I became much more politically conscious as a result of the walk-outs and after high school I began working for non-profit organizations in Los Angeles. Through my work with the Chicana Services Action Center, The Community Service Organization, and Project Heavy, I was able to contribute to the needs of our communities. I met a lot of the local politicians through my work with these non-profits.
JG: Any suggestions to the youth today on changing things in society that they see need to be fixed?
GP: They need to unite like we did. Speak up and be heard, and they need to be active. Nothing will change without speaking up.
Overall, it was a great evening of history where SIATech Los Angeles students walked away inspired to make a positive change in their community based on what they learned from Bobby and Genevieve. They served as an inspiration for SIATech Los Angeles students to make an impact in their community and the importance of political advocacy.
Jake Gordon is the principal of SIATech at Los Angeles Job Corps Center.