Mita Cuaron: East LA High School Walkouts Event - (Extra Credit)
Mita Cuaron, shared her experience as a walkout participant in the 1968 East Los Angeles High School Walkouts by detailing her feelings and emotions throughout the movement. She disclosed that it always felt like a mini earthquake that was vibrating inside her body. As a student at Garfield High School during the Walkouts, Mita was beaten, arrested and expelled for her role. She was dragged down the stairs by police officers, had a cocktail thrown at her and was dehumanized at her jail cell by being isolated by her peers and acquaintances.She was harassed and dehumanized by her teachers and was told by her history teacher that she deprived her classmates from getting an education due to the interruption the riots caused. Her house served as the main location were organizers met and planned the walkouts. Mita was a key figure in organizing the walk outs and orchestrated many meetings. What shocked me the most was when she mentioned the untold story about how most of the kids that participated in the walk outs were unable to go back to their house. She stated that parents were angry at their kids because they were questioning authority figures such as teachers and police officers. I was also surprised that she said the church was even against them and it was upsetting that a lot of places and people did not support them. Mita commended that the legacy of the Walkouts needs to continue and that she was excited that UCLA is offering a course dedicated on the East Los Angeles High School Walkouts. She added that not everyone is getting and equal education and it is important to know the problems that exist in our communities to change the future, because the struggle still continues. She ended with thanking everyone in challenging the system and being in a higher educational institution.
Mita Cuaron, shared her experience as a walkout participant in the 1968 East Los Angeles High School Walkouts by detailing her feelings and emotions throughout the movement. She disclosed that it always felt like a mini earthquake that was vibrating inside her body. As a student at Garfield High School during the Walkouts, Mita was beaten, arrested and expelled for her role. She was dragged down the stairs by police officers, had a cocktail thrown at her and was dehumanized at her jail cell by being isolated by her peers and acquaintances.She was harassed and dehumanized by her teachers and was told by her history teacher that she deprived her classmates from getting an education due to the interruption the riots caused. Her house served as the main location were organizers met and planned the walkouts. Mita was a key figure in organizing the walk outs and orchestrated many meetings. What shocked me the most was when she mentioned the untold story about how most of the kids that participated in the walk outs were unable to go back to their house. She stated that parents were angry at their kids because they were questioning authority figures such as teachers and police officers. I was also surprised that she said the church was even against them and it was upsetting that a lot of places and people did not support them. Mita commended that the legacy of the Walkouts needs to continue and that she was excited that UCLA is offering a course dedicated on the East Los Angeles High School Walkouts. She added that not everyone is getting and equal education and it is important to know the problems that exist in our communities to change the future, because the struggle still continues. She ended with thanking everyone in challenging the system and being in a higher educational institution.
Wow thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think oppression is normal to us and even though its unfair we've become used to living like this. That is why actions like the East LA walkout are so important because it is the way to disrupt the status quo by calling attention to circumstances that have existed for generations( and still exist today). The caveat to actions that are meant to be disruptive, and make people feel uncomfortable, is that people push back from leaving their comfort zones. The fact their is backlash is a testament to the power of those walkouts.
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