Final answer:
The East LA Walkouts were student-led protests in 1968 advocating for better education for Chicano students, against restrictive and discriminatory practices in Los Angeles schools, and are a key part of the Chicano Movement's history.
Step-by-step explanation:
East LA Walkouts Explain
The East LA Walkouts of March 1968 were a series of student strikes at five high schools in East Los Angeles, primarily demanding improved educational opportunities and rights for Chicano students. The walkouts challenged discriminatory practices such as forbidding students from speaking Spanish in class, the exclusion of Mexican history from the curriculum, and the push towards vocational careers rather than college.
School administrators initially refused to negotiate, leading to police intervention and arrests of protest organizers, including the influential teacher Sal Castro. The events are a significant part of the Chicano Movement and are reflective of broader struggles for civil rights and identity among Mexican Americans in the United States.