2. Kingsville, Texas - 1969
In April 1969, roughly 100 Mexican American junior high students in Kingsville went on strike--marching, chanting, and rallying at a hamburger stand across the street from their school. Their demands paralleled those of the students in Ed Couch and East Los Angeles.
The strike was a collective effort between junior high, high school, and university students. Kingsville police, after calling in back-up from surrounding departments, responded to the protest by arresting more than 100 people--half of them under age 17.
A) “75 STUDENTS STRIKE AT KINGSVILLE SCHOOL,” CORPUS CHRISTI TIMES, April 14, 1969
KINGSVILLE -- About 75 Latin American students this morning began a boycott of classes at Kingsville's Gillett Junior High School after presenting a list of "demands" to school authorities.
The boycott apparently was organized by the local Mexican-American Youth Organization (MAYO) and involved a few local high school students as well.
The boycott began shortly after 8 a.m. The participants gathered on property across a street from the school and periodically marched along the side of the street clapping their hands and yelling "Viva la Raza!" and "Viva MAYO!"
Some of the students said they were seeking bilingual and bicultural education programs, the right to speak Spanish at school without "harassment," more Mexican-American books in the school library, more Mexican-American teachers, and a ban on the alleged practice of some teachers of taking sides in the classrooms on political issues.
Other grievances also were mentioned by the students.
School principal Garnot Gillett was not available for comment this morning.
B) John Depue, “KINGSVILLE CALM AGAIN: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE NORMAL AFTER DEMONSTRATION,” CORPUS CHRISTI TIMES, April 17, 1969
KINGSVILLE -- At least a temporary calm had returned to Kingsville this morning following the arrest yesterday of 110 Mexican-American demonstrators and a "silent vigil" outside police headquarters last night by at least 400 persons awaiting the release of the youths.
Those arrested included 56 juveniles and 54 persons 17 or older. Most of the juveniles had been released to their parents by 5 p.m. yesterday, but it was about 3:30 a.m. today before all those 17 or over had been released.
About 35 to 40 of the persons in the older age group were released on their own recognizance, one at a time, with the condition that the crowd outside the station go home and the students return to class today.
About 12 persons over 17 put up a $50 cash bond for their release before it was agreed to let the youths go without bond.
The demonstration that led to their arrest yesterday afternoon was part of a boycott of classes at Gillett Junior High School in support of a list of demands presented to school officials.
Demands included that students be allowed to speak Spanish at school, that more books relating to the Mexican-American culture be placed in the school library, that bilingual and bicultural programs be instituted, that more Mexican-American teachers, counselors, and administrators be hired and that teachers refrain from the alleged practice of taking political sides in classrooms.
The demonstrations in support of the demands began Monday and had centered around Gillett Junior High School until yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday the students marched from the school into the downtown area, where they were arrested by police.
The demonstrators included junior high, high school and college students, as well as some dropouts. The activities were primarily organized by the local Mexican-American Youth Organization (MAYO) with the assistance of several members of the Texas A&I University PASO chapter.
This morning there was no evidence of any boycott or demonstration at Gillett Junior High.
Police reported no abnormal activity anywhere in town. School officials said class attendance appeared to be about normal.
Fourteen state highway patrolmen who had been requested by Chief of Police Paul Hulsey yesterday to assist his 28-man force returned to their normal duty areas in junior high, high school and the Coastal Bend early this morning.
Return to Stations
Originally it had been planned that the state officers would remain in Kingsville today, but it later was decided that they would go to their regular stations but return to the city if needed.
Carlos Guerra, an officer of the PASO chapter at A&I, said early today that although the school boycott has been temporarily relaxed, the drive to gain acceptance of the demands would not end.
Guerra said in a statement made as the arrested youths were being released:
“All people arrested have been released. In this sphere we have been successful. As for the demands which we made on the school system, they have not been met or even adequately answered. Chicano (Mexican-American) youth have shown their commitment to the cause of the betterment of the Mexican-American in education and elsewhere.”
“We will continue to press for the reforms that Chicanos must have. We will have equality and we will have it for ourselves. We will not wait for equality for our children.”
Guerra said that if there is no “adequate response” to the demands, additional actions may be taken.
Some Face Charges
Although all the demonstrators were released, those 17 or older still face charges of disturbing the peace, unlawful assembly, and in a few cases, failure to obey the lawful order of a police officer.
Hearings for some of the students were scheduled for this afternoon, but it was anticipated that postponements would be asked.
The students are being represented by Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund attorneys, Juan Rocha and Allen Axelrod, both of San Antonio, and Rudolfo Garza of Corpus Christi.
SOURCES:
“75 Students Strike at Kingsville School,” Corpus Christi Times, April 14, 1969
John Depue, “Kingsville Calm Again: School Attendance Normal After Demonstration,” Corpus Christi Times, April 17, 1969