...striking farmworker
Cesar Chavez
shows strong signs
of deterioration
since his fast began...
- Walkout!
- Walkout!
- Bobby!
- Yes!
- Gettysburg.
- Uh...
I don't know. A whole mess
of people got killed.
Scratch a little
deeper, Bobby.
- Who fought there?
- Americans!
Americans?
How about your ancestors?
- Mexicanos?
- Yeah!
Yoli, help him out. Read the part
on the Chicano regiments.
- Chicanos?
- Old Mexican-Americans.
It was before we
moved to East L.A.
and became vatos locos!
Any luck, Yoli?
Read the part
about Mariano Vallejo
and his meeting
with Abraham Lincoln. That's it.
Paula, help her out. Read the part
of 9,000 Mexican-Americans
who fought in
the American Civil War.
Mr. Castro, it doesn't say
anything about Mexican-Americans.
Let me see.
See, that's funny.
We were there.
What side
did we fight on?
Both.
Ooh, and we still lost?
Yeah, we still lost.
You know what we lost?
We lost our legacy.
Why? 'Cause we're
not in this book.
See, if people
don't know about it,
then it never happened.
See, you're learning
your history
from people that don't
know your history.
Your blood...
is in Gettysburg.
What about Vietnam?
Your blood is
in Vietnam too.
Okay, have a good day.
Fernie, I want
to talk to you.
Hey.
Your mother signed
your permission slip.
I look forward to having you.
- I need your permission slip too.
- I'm really working on it.
I can't hold it, Paula.
What do we do? What do we do?
Let's try
the faculty restroom.
Excuse me!
What are you doing?
Mr. Hurley,
I really have to go.
No students allowed in the
building at lunch. You know that.
- Mr. Hurley, the other bathrooms--
- I don't make the rules.
Go on!
- Hey, Yoli, you wanna see the fight?
- Not right now, Bobby.
- Watch out.
- Okay okay.
Break it up!
I said break it up!
Break it up, break it up!
Get over here.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Hey, we're not
done here, puto!
Drop it, Fernie.
Drop it, Fernie.
Drop it. Okay, everybody
go back to class.
Come on, stop!
Come on,
before Ingles sees us.
- The principal's a pendejo.
- Ey!
Look, don't give
that pendejo
any more reasons
to kick you out of school.
No one talks like that
about my mother, man.
You're worried about
your mother? Graduate.
- Everybody go back to class.
- Hey, Paula.
See you at the meeting room.
Be there or be square.
I'll see you there, Ray.
Guess we'd better
get back inside now.
No no no, I'll catch up
with you later.
All right.
Come on!
Please, Papi!
It's not a camping trip.
I'm not sending you to the beach
with a bunch of wild boys. I told you!
It's Malibu! It's a student
leadership conference, Papi!
You have nothing
to worry about.
They're all geeks,
like Paula.
You think anyone
who can spell is a geek.
- J-E-K.
- G-E-E-K.
That was my point, see?
It's a chance to be around
intelligent kids for a change.
Panfilo, it's an honor
to be chosen.
- She brings pride to the family.
- Dad--
I already finished my homework,
I got the weekend off from the theater,
- and it doesn't cost anything!
- Jeff!
- Yeah, Papi?
- When's your test?
Monday.
You stay home and help
your brother study.
He's not so smart
like you.
I'm not going to help him.
No one ever helped me with my homework.
Here.
You have permission.
He signed it?!
I signed it.
It only asks
for one signature.
You should be
very pleased, Paula.
President of the ticketeers,
prom committee,
you've make quite
a contribution here.
Not to mention
your test scores.
Now here are
your financial aid forms.
Have you applied
to any other colleges?
No, not yet.
- Hey, Paula.
- Hey, Paula.
Hey, how'd it go?
Mr. Peck told me,
"You have a big future ahead of you."
- That's good!
- Yeah.
- In the art world.
- Industrial arts.
Nice way to say
"car mechanic."
He told me secretary.
There's no nice way to say that.
Didn't he offer
junior college?
Yeah, to improve
my typing skills.
Anyway. So what
did he say to you?
He just gave me some pamphlets
and financial aid stuff.
Out of all of us, you should
definitely be the one going to college.
Why only me?
- 'Cause you're smart.
- So are you.
- Yeah, not in the same way.
- Bobby Verdugo? Give me a break, Sal.
- He also happens to be a smart ass.
- We can get him into UCLA.
- He's got 2.8.
- But he's got the test scores.
Get real, Sal. We've got to concentrate
our resources on the talented ones.
You don't have to go
to college to be successful.
No, you don't, but they have
to know what's available to them.
They could be doctors, lawyers.
There's other roles for them
to play in society, Sal.
Lloyd, I think you'd
better stay out of this.
How much money
do you make?
- As much as you do.
- Which is bupkis.
And Jorge Ramirez who graduated
this high school owns his own tire shop.
No college education,
he makes 10 times our salary.
You know what? I bet he's got
- Sal, you know I do whatever I can.
- Good.
Don't give up on Bobby.
Steer him into college.
Is that what he wants, Sal,
or is that what you want?
You know something, Hurley?
Whoever gave you a break,
I bet you they
regret it right now.
I'm just asking
a question.
"I seemed swinging in a mighty
rhythm through orbit vastness.
Sparkling points of light
spluttered and shot past me."
- Fernie.
- "They were stars,
I knew,
and flaring comets
that peopled my flight
among the suns."
Jesus.
"As I reached
the limit of my swing
and prepared to rush back
on the counter swing,
a great... gong struck
and thundered."
- "For an immeasurable--"
- Bobby, Jesus, front and center.
- What'd I do?
- You spoke Spanish. You know the rules.
Mr. Verdugo,
you're first.
Let's go.
Assume the position.
Quiet!
Excuse me.
Glad you could join us.
Since you're here,
is there any action
on the entertainment
for the prom?
We're still trying to find
a band. Personally,
- I like The Midnighters.
- Can we afford them?
Well, we could still
do some fundraising
and pull about $100
from the decorating committee.
Look at what we're
spending on balloons.
Balloons contribute
to the festive atmosphere.
Find a cheaper band.
If there isn't anything--
We have to get the school to
open the restrooms at lunch.
We've already discussed that
and proposed it.
They say we don't
respect it.
They're bathrooms, Ray,
not churches.
Not happening.
Let's focus on things
under our control.
Be careful, mija.
Bye, Mami!
- Do you guys ever stop kissing?
- Do we ever?
No, never.
- See? Look how she loves me.
- Check this out, Paula.
- Isn't that cute?
- It's my love drawing I made for him.
Hey, come on, Chato,
don't do me like this, ese!
Mr. Castro said all I gotta
do is deliver you here
and I don't have
to do a book report.
I see how you putos are!
Pimping out
your own homeboy!
What the fuck
are you looking at?
- You're coming with us?
- Fuck no.
- Nice, huh?
- That house right there, honey.
Right there.
Check out these houses.
They're all Beaver Cleaver.
Wow. What do
these people do?
Lawyers, doctors,
businessmen.
College-educated people.
- Hey, Mr. Castro?
- Yeah?
- You went to college, right?
- Yeah.
How come you ain't
living out here?
- Far out.
- That's beautiful.
Whoa.
Wow.
- You ever been to the beach?
- Of course.
Once.
And another rule:
Don't pick up any moving sticks.
- Those are snakes.
- Well, mine wasn't moving.
And you're not supposed
to pick those up either.
Why, are they dangerous?
They like
to think they are.
Hi. Here,
let me help you.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
Uh, excuse me. Thank you
so much for your help.
Paula, you can get
your bag. No boys allowed.
Come on. Ladies,
get your bags and thank the guys
for their genuine
kindness.
Does anybody
know why they're here?
Hey, does anybody know
why they're here?
To meet girls!
- To meet boys.
- Yeah!
All right, all right.
I'll tell you
why you're here.
Because an administrator,
or a teacher,
or somebody who understands
the Chicano struggle
saw something in you.
Maybe you're smart.
Maybe you're good at sports.
Maybe you're good with people.
Maybe you're just
a chingon vato loco.
Ah, Bobby Verdugo.
Cholo king!
One out of four
Mexican-Americans
graduate high school.
You guys are almost
over that hurdle.
The next hurdle is
getting you into college
and getting a degree.
"Time" magazine,
you guys see it?
It's America's Bible,
and we made it!
Whoo!
Let me read it to you.
It's called "Pocho's Progress."
- What? Pocho?
- Who are the Pochos, by the way?
- Who's Pocho?
- "Nowhere is Pocho's plight
more evident than in the monotonous
sun-scabbed flatlands
of East Los Angeles."
What are they talking about?
We got hills in East L.A.
I know, I know.
"In tawdry taco joints
and rollicking cantinas,
the reek of cheap sweet wine
competes with the fumes
of frying tortillas."
- This is how they see you.
- That's bullshit, man.
Yeah.
So if our schools
are inferior,
and the police beat us up,
so what, right?
We deserve it, right?
We're cheap,
- tawdry and poor-- no?
- No! No!
- No.
- 2%
of Chicanos make it
into college.
to change that.
Until we get educated,
somebody else will be
writing our history.
- I want us to write it.
- That's right, yeah!
- Let's write it.
- Yeah!
Huh? I want us
to make our own history!
The great American Chicano!
Remember! Remember that freedom
is in education and knowledge.
- Got it.
- Thank you.
U.M.A.S.
Hi, welcome
to Occidental.
- Strong liberal arts--
- Thank you.
I'm gonna have so much
to fill out tonight.
- Got it, got it. I am hungry, girls.
- Hi, Mr. Castro.
- UCLA.
- I see L.A., we saw L.A.
- What's with the berets?
- Like the Black Panthers, only brown.
- That's original.
- Ladies, sign up right here.
- What do you guys do?
- We're a community action group
improving conditions
in the barrio:
cleaning up parks,
registering people to vote--
Don't forget about
protesting police brutality.
- Yeah?
- That's right. I'm David Sanchez,
- Carlos Montes.
- Hi.
- Armando Lopez.
- Oh--
- How are you doing?
- How are you guys? Nice to meet you.
Here, this'll give you an idea
of what's really going on.
Thanks for your
contribution.
We want people who've got
the guts to change things.
- You think you've got the guts?
- Hey, girls?
You want to change
something, go to college.
- You're Al's sister, right?
- Yeah.
- Paula.
- Moctesuma Esparza.
I went to Lincoln
with him.
You passed by my booth.
And... where are you
going to college?
Oh, um,
I don't know yet.
There's 40 Chicanos in UCLA--
at a school of 30,000
not counting the gardeners. We need
all the beautiful Chicanas we can get.
No, I mean I don't know
if I'm going to go to college.
Yes, you are.
You're a leader.
That's why you're here.
Please, fill these out.
We'll even pay
the application fee. Uh, Vickie!
Vickie will help you with
any questions you have, okay?
- Hey, you guys.
- Thank you, Monte.
It's Mocte.
Hey, here's my number.
Call me.
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.
- See you.
- See you later, girls.
Hey, Yoli.
Take that.
"Chicanas," I like that.
Chicano, Chicana,
how does that make you feel?
You all should really be going.
You've got to get a degree.
Good grades will help
if you don't have the money.
Chicano!
This is a poem
by Corky Gonzales.
"I am Joaquin,
Lost in a world
of confusion,
Caught in the whirl
of gringo society,
Confused by the rules,
Scorned by the attitudes...
I've come a long way
to nowhere...
I am Cuauhtemoc...
King of an empire,
civilized...
far beyond the dreams
of the Gachupin Cortez...
I am the Maya Prince...
Great leader
of the Chichimecas...
I rode
with Pancho Villa.
Hidalgo! Zapata!
Murietta! Espinoza!
are but a few... who dared
to face The force
of the tyranny of men
who rule by farce
and hypocrisy.
I stand here
looking back,
and now I see
the present.
In a country that's
wiped out all my history...
and stifled my pride.
I shed a tear
of anguish
when I see my children
disappear in the shroud
of mediocrity,
never to look back...
and remember me.
And now the trumpets sound,
The music in the people
stirs a Revolution,
Like a sleeping giant,
slowly rearing its head...
And we start to move.
La Raza!
Mexicanos! Espanoles! Chicanos!
Latinos! whatever I call myself,
I look the same
I feel the same
I cry and sing the same...
I am Joaquin...
My blood is pure.
I am Aztec prince...
I am Christian Christ.
I shall endure!"
Yeah, I know one thing--
I ain't
no Joaquin.
- Who's Joaquin?
- The guy from the poem.
"Lost in a world
of confusion,
Caught in a whirl
of a gringo society."
Hey, that's Bobby!
You're Chicano, Bobby.
You can't wash that shit out.
You're an Aztec.
Mexica.
Man, I ain't no Aztec.
I'm a Dodger's fan.
"Lost in a world
of confusion."
And you're the son of your father.
Your father's a Chicano.
My father's
a Teamster, man.
Naw, man,
he's from Bakersfield.
He's Mexican-American.
No, you're either Mexican
or you're American, you can't be both.
- You're one or the other.
- That's not true.
But Irish-Americans
don't have to chose.
I'm not
a Mexican-American.
I'm a Chicana.
Born and raised in the U.S.A.
- We can all agree on that one, right?
- Yeah.
You know, one day I want
to be the first great Chicano surfer.
- What's stopping you?
- I can't swim.
Okay, what was your
favorite part, Paula?
Oh, the best part was
definitely dancing around the fire.
Oh, you two were so funny.
Bobby was such a dork.
I've never seen you
move like that, man.
You get red ants on your feet,
of course you move like that.
This is what's great though.
You've got a bunch of kids,
some of the brightest kids,
right, that want to change
as much as you guys,
that's what's great about it.
I didn't know there were
that many people--
There's a lot more!
- Where are we?
- It's a high school. Who needs to go?
I'm going.
Okay, this is the senior court.
You see the stairwell?
- Yeah.
- Okay, there's a water fountain.
Behind the water fountain,
there's a bathroom.
Okay?
Fernie, come with me.
- There you are.
- I'm sorry! I was gonna come down--
No no no.
What are you looking at?
Oh, look at this.
There's so much to learn
we don't find out about.
Our library is sad.
I mean, look--
they have books
in Hebrew.
They have French,
German.
They even
have Spanish.
Look at this, look.
We can't even speak Spanish
in our schools.
I know.
It's not right. I mean, don't people
realize how we're being treated?
Hmm... you should write
an article about it.
What, "A Tale
of Two Schools"?
That's a good title.
Hi, Papi.
Mando Ramos?
I love Mando.
Look at him dance.
He's running away.
Come on.
He's amazing.
He used to be.
Now he don't work for it.
Thinks he knows
everything.
He still wins
on points.
He takes
too many chances.
Guys who take chances...
vas a ver.
Bang!
Get their heads
taken off.
You should have
seen it, Papi.
All we did was drive
across the city
and it was like we were
in a whole new world.
There were kids from all over,
smart kids, Papi.
We heard speeches
and there was a poem,
and we learned all about
our culture.
What culture?
The Chicano culture.
You're not a Chicana.
Of course I am.
I am from
the Philippines.
You're a Chilipina.
Chilipina.
"A Tale of Two Schools.
You're afraid of us,
your own children,
scared that we're gonna
shake things up,
change what
you're holding on to.
But we're beginning to see
what's going on and we don't like it.
We're opening our eyes
and finding our own voices."
"It's not about
swimming pools
and fancy auditoriums.
The Palisades High library
has books in languages
from all over the world.
They honor the cultures
of their students.
In East L.A., the Chicanos aren't
even allowed to speak Spanish.
The Declaration
of Independence
tells us that we are
created equal,
but our schools teach us
that we are not."
Dang, girl,
you can write!
I know.
Risco at "La Raza"
will love this.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
This is La Piranya.
That's right, girl. We built
this place ourselves.
There's so many
people in there.
Don't worry. You met a lot
of them up at Malibu.
Yeah.
Chicana,
Chicano headquarter.
Come on.
Paula, Vickie, hi!
Thanks for coming.
- I think you know everyone here.
- Hey, Robert.
- Hey, Paula.
- Hey, Mocte, Tanya.
- Hi.
- Oh-- Tanya.
Tanya Mount.
Roosevelt?
- Hey girl.
- Um, wait, what was your name again?
John Ortiz.
I'm with Garfield.
- Garfield.
- Just like Mita, Mita goes to Garfield.
Yeah, Mita Cuaron.
Hi, Paula.
- Um, and Mickey?
- Mickey Fernandez.
- Beverly Hills High School.
- He wishes.
- And Harry, right?
- Harry Gamboa.
Wow, so we have all five East L.A.
high schools here in one place.
- That could be dangerous.
- Did you guys all read Paula's article?
I read it.
I really liked it, Paula.
- It was really good.
- Great article.
- Impressive.
- East L.A. schools
are more jacked up
than Westside schools.
- That ain't news.
- It is news, Harry. A student wrote it.
The principal should
read the article, actually.
We should get all
our principals to read that.
Principals know
the school's jacked up,
but that's just one student complaining.
It's not going to do anything.
One student might not
change anything,
- but a whole bunch will.
- So what do we do?
How about we get every
high school student to write
an essay about what they
think about schools?
They're not going to write an essay.
They don't even do homework.
This is East L.A. You know what I mean?
Not everybody can write.
We can make it simple.
We can ask the questions ourselves--
come up with a list of questions,
and then kids can answer
them about their schools.
- Like a survey.
- Oh yeah!
Surveys are bullshit.
- Have you got a better idea?
- You want to get people's attention,
get their attention. The Black Panthers
don't take no surveys.
- We're not the Black Panthers, ese.
- Black Panthers?
We're talking about
improving the schools, Carlos.
We're talking about getting
people's attention, que no?
Que si. That's why we're
gonna do it our own way.
- Nonviolently.
- Hey, Vickie, I'm just going to go.
You just got here. Come on,
we're just getting into it.
I have to get home.
I didn't realize what time it is.
- You guys don't know my dad.
- Can I give you a ride?
- You have a car?
- Yeah, I have a car. Come on.
All right, well, it was nice
seeing you guys again.
- Bye.
- Thank you, bye.
- I'm watching you.
- All right, bye.
- Whoo.
- So you think Carlos is serious?
- About what?
- About doing like the Black Panthers,
violence and shit.
I don't know.
I-- I don't think so.
I mean I can't take guys too seriously
who wear sunglasses at night.
Neither can I.
Here, I'll get it.
Thanks.
Sorry.
So... why did you join?
- What, the Brown Berets?
- Yeah.
I saw you sign up.
I don't know, I want
to help out the community.
I think we all need
to stick together.
So do I.
Thanks for
taking me home.
Yeah sure.
It's no problem.
Um, look, Paula.
- Yeah?
- Um...
You know, I was
watching you tonight.
When everyone was talking,
you were just listening.
I just wanted to hear
what they had to say.
Yeah--
- Hey, sis!
- What?!
Nothing. Dad's home
from work early.
- Oh my gosh. You didn't tell him--
- Wait--
- No, you've gotta get out of here.
- Wait, Paula-- do you maybe--
- Go go go go!
- want to do something on Friday?
No, go now.
Hey, hey!
- So who's the vato?
- Al, I swear if you say anything--
Papi,
you're home early.
- It's late.
- It's a Saturday night.
- Who brought you home?
- Yeah, tell him who brought you home.
- Wasn't that Vickie's car?
- Who's Vickie?
She's a counselor
I met at camp.
I told you I don't want you
hanging around those people.
You don't even know them.
Vickie goes to college.
- They're agitators!
- Agitators?
You see?
She's agitated!
Mija.
- Who was the boy?
- He was just a friend.
- If you're trying to hide something--
- Mom.
If I was trying to hide, we wouldn't
be parked in front of the house.
- If you get pregnant--
- What?!
Mom, is that what
you think this is about?
I don't know what
this is about.
"Do your parents and counselors
support you in all your ambitions?"
"Do you think you are
going to graduate?"
Pssh.
Chale, hell no.
- Why not?
- "If not, why not?"
I'm serious, Bobby.
"What is the point?"
Hey, I can hear you
in there.
It's a raging river, sir.
All right, come on
out of there now.
Nature's calling, Mr. Hurley,
I have to answer it.
Now you're going to have to
answer to Principal Ingles. Let's go.
What is he supposed to do?
- He's supposed to use the bathroom.
- The bathroom is locked.
Well then, he can wait.
That's what people do--
they wait.
Come on.
Let's go.
Mr. Hurley, come on.
Give the guy a break.
Rodriguez, this doesn't
concern you.
He didn't hurt anything.
He won't do it again.
- Right, payaso?
- Scout's honor.
Hey, come on,
let us handle it.
All right.
Everybody listen up.
Don't pee in the bushes.
All right?
Okay.
Open the bathrooms.
Yeah.
Are you guys
tired of this?
About how we're being
treated in school?
Well, we might have
something to change it.
- What is that?
- It's a survey.
It asks questions about our schools
and the way we're being treated.
We're hoping it will
make a difference.
- Can I see one?
- Yeah.
"Are you made to feel
ashamed of your heritage?"
Can I fill one out?
Yeah.
- Gimme one of those.
- Here.
- I want one. I want one.
- You guys can all fill them out.
We can change this.
Try to fill these out and get them
back to us as soon as you can.
Here you go.
Try to fill these out.
Please fill out a survey
and return it to me.
- Here, fill out a flyer.
- Everybody take a survey
to evaluate our high school.
People of our school
are supposed to fill out this survey.
It's a survey about
our education. Brown power.
Thank you so much.
Improve your schools, make a difference.
Hi, how are you? Fill one
of these out, it'll only take a minute.
Make a difference.
Hi, how are you?
Please take one.
It'll only take a minute. Hi.
It'll only take a minute.
Improve your schools, make a difference.
Hey, fill out
this survey, man.
Hey, ladies,
how you doing?
How was
that biology class?
Fill out these surveys, we want to know
what kids at Belmont have to say.
Fill this out.
There you go.
It's a survey.
Here you go.
Thank you.
These things
are a joke.
- They can't even spell.
- You should have no problems.
She wants to be able to ask questions
during class. That's reasonable.
Hey, this guy wants
Mexican food in the cafeteria.
Yeah, tacos for everyone.
Hey, the pinche cops across
the street just hassled me, man.
- What?
- Yeah, there's cops out there.
We're not doing
anything wrong.
They been out there for a while.
They been watching us, ey?
Hey, did they ask you
any questions?
Every night.
Fucking every night.
Yeah, you can't take these
surveys to the school board.
- Morning, Mr. Hurley.
- Good morning.
- Hey, Lloyd.
- Morning, Sal.
Why not? Look.
Mocte said that if we take--
Mocte. Did he tell you
that he tried this two years ago?
- What?
- Yeah, and they shut them down.
- They'll shut this down.
- No, the school board has to listen.
They don't have to listen to you.
Not the students.
- Yes they do.
- They can wait until you graduate
or drop out,
and then problem solved.
You don't even sound
like you're on our side.
I am on your side.
I was born on your side.
I have tortillas
in my blood.
You have to
slow down.
Okay? You have
to build support.
Okay.
What about
the school principals?
That's a start.
Try Ingles.
You want Mexican food
served in the cafeteria?
That's one point
in 39, Mr. Ingles.
"Compulsory
bilingual education.
Text books revised to reflect
Mexican-American culture and--"
"Teachers who show prejudice
must be transferred."
"Libraries expanded.
End of swatting."
"Covered lunch areas.
No janitorial punishment."
Mm-hmm.
"New schools"?
Tell me, Tanya, who's going
to pay for the new schools?
I don't know, sir.
I don't think
you thought this through.
You're going to graduate
in just a few months.
Are you saying it's not
important to improve our schools?
I don't see what you
have to complain about.
- You've done extremely well here.
- 'Cause it's not just me.
Look, I'm not saying
the schools are perfect.
I've pushed for some of these same
changes myself. These things take time.
Will you at least take it
to the school board?
Paula, you have
a bright future ahead of you.
Don't mess things up.
And that group that you've
been hanging out with...
you're too much of an individual
to buy into that collective angst crap.
Be sensible
about this.
- Sal, can I have a word?
- Yeah, sure.
Did you put these kids
up to this?
- No.
- Now I'm not stupid, Sal.
This is going to stop.
Paula Chrisistomo is--
- Chrisostomo.
- Chrisostomo.
Paula Chrisostomo
is a good student.
She shouldn't be
jeopardizing her future.
It's not up to me. The kids
took the initiative themselves.
Oh, and you're not
giving them any advice?
If they ask me a question,
I answer it truthfully.
That's what
a teacher does.
I think that you're trying
to coerce these kids--
Ingles, I'm not trying
to coerce anybody.
"Mr. Ingles" please.
Mr. Ingles, these kids
don't have to be coerced,
they know what's going on.
They know that they're getting
the short end of the stick.
I can see why they
kicked you out of Belmont.
You just don't know when
to draw the line, Sal.
Well, these kids
are gonna be heard.
- If things go wrong...
- Mm-hmm.
...I'm coming after you.
Well, come early,
'cause there'll be a line.
- What was that?
- Oh, I said everything will be fine.
Come on, huevones. You just gonna
sit there and watch us clean all night?
You know the reason
we got shit-canned.
It was because it was a stupid idea to
go to the principals in the first place.
- That was Sal's idea.
- No, that was my idea.
Your idea was to take a survey, and you
didn't tell us that you did it before.
- Hey, that was two years ago.
- Yeah, and it failed.
Look, we weren't nearly as
organized as we are now.
Screw that, it's the past.
Why don't we just take
the surveys to the school board?
Enough with the surveys already!
It didn't work.
Kids are getting their heads
busted for burning their draft cards,
and we can't turn in a few papers
to the school board? Shit.
I'll have to build a coalition.
You know how this thing works.
It's gonna take time.
Time is what we're
running out of.
These kids
are ready to blow.
- Sal...
- Mm-hmm.
You're the teacher,
teach them the system.
Well, the system's been
screwing them their entire lives.
I think they have a pretty
good idea of how the system works.
Well, radical reform
doesn't happen overnight.
Did the Watts riots
really change anything?
Well, let's just hope
it doesn't come to that.
Well, I'm gonna
need time to do this,
but I just got elected
to the school board.
Yeah, thanks to
the Chicano vote.
Let's get one thing
straight, all right?
It was a countywide election.
Oh. Well, y-you're just
sounding like a politician.
- You're sounding like an idiot.
- Oh! An idiot, huh?
Unenlightened.
- I prefer idiot.
- Listen, get me more of these surveys.
- I'm gonna have to pass them out...
- Mr. Castro.
so bring them
to me for the next...
The meeting will
now come to order.
Excuse me, Madam Chair.
First thing on the agenda is
of course the funding for the Westside.
It will be
approximately 2.5 million.
Mr. Richardson?
Thank you.
- Yes, Madam Chair.
- Yes.
We'll take it up
next week.
- I say we call it a day.
- One moment, if I may?
Julian, you never take
just one minute.
Earlier today,
I passed out a report.
It's a survey taken by a group of
students from our East L.A. schools...
with some
very interesting ideas
on how to improve the studies
for Mexican-American students.
May we go through it?
I think we could all use a little
more time to review the document.
What do you think,
Dr. Nava?
Well, I'd like
to set a timetable.
Put the timetable on the agenda
for our next meeting.
This session
is now adjourned.
We can't just sit around
and wait for these pendejos!
It's time to protest!
Yeah! Hey, I know a vato back from
Vietnam
who makes some
mean Molotov cocktails.
Hey, the point
is nonviolence, pendejo!
Just like Martin Luther King
and Gandhi and Cesar Chavez.
What about
the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
- Hey! Hold it, hold it!
- It's like Montgomery.
You know, Dr. King got
everybody to boycott buses right?
Yeah, and Cesar is
boycotting grapes.
Yeah, you guys, but this
is about schools, okay?
- So let's boycott!
- The schools?
- Why not?
- That's completely different.
No, it's not!
It's-- it's exactly the same.
We get treated
like second-class citizens!
Hey, are we talking
about buses here or what?
Our schools are
the back of the bus!
What?
Boycott the schools.
- That's good!
- Yes, boycott.
- No, that's not a good idea!
- Oh it isn't?
No, you wanna know why?
Because they don't give a shit
if these kids go to school or not!
- Actually, they do!
- Oh, how so professor?
A.D.A.--
Average Daily Attendance!
Schools get money
from the state
according to how many
students are present!
Empty chairs,
empty pockets!
- They need us!
- So what, bunch of kids stay home sick?
No, we show up
and then we leave!
- Si.
- Walkout.
A walkout, yeah.
- A walkout.
- A walkout. Walkout.
Walkout, guys!
I like that! Walkout!
- Walkout!
- Let's do it!
Come on! Let's go!
Walkout, walkout...
Walkout, walkout,
walkout, walkout!
Molotov cocktails
and walkouts worry me.
I mean, I think there could
be a better way to do this.
Why didn't you
say anything?
This whole thing
can backfire on us.
If we attack the principals
and the school board members...
they're gonna fight back.
It's not an attack,
it's a protest.
I don't know.
Yeah, I want better schools.
I want a Chicano mayor
from East L.A.
So, are you
declaring your candidacy?
No.
- I don't know. Maybe.
- Maybe?
Hey, holmes.
Hey, check it out.
- What is it?
- Smile for the camera.
- Check out those pigs right there.
- Cheese!
- Queso.
- Make sure they get your good side.
Check that out.
Come on, Fernie,
you missed a candy wrapper.
Come on, pick it up.
Let's get that.
You got something else
here by the drainpipe.
By the rain gutter,
Fernie, let's go.
This whole quarter's
got to be clean.
Not one piece
of trash.
Come on, come on, don't forget
these papers over here.
Not one piece
of trash.
Come on, I've been here
long enough already.
Don't you wanna go home?
You got two milk cartons
under that table.
Fernie, you got two milk cartons
under that table, clean it up.
Clean up
the two milk cartons.
Come on, Fernie,
all the trash.
All of it. How many times
do I gotta say it?
Come on, we've been
doing this all day.
Two milk cartons
and you're off the hook!
Clean up the two milk cartons,
put them in the trash pile,
and let's get out of here.
- Fernie.
- Fernie, it's not worth it.
- Pick up that broom.
- Just do what he says.
- Come on, he just wants you to quit.
- Hey, you stay out of this!
- I did not ask you!
- He wants you to quit.
Just do what he says, okay?
Just do what he says.
- Hey, Fernie, look at me.
- Come on.
Pick up that broom,
or you're out of here.
Please, Fernie,
just do it, okay?
Come on.
Please, Fernie.
Last chance, Fernie,
pick up the damn broom!
That's right,
pick it up.
All right. Now you got
a pile of trash over here.
Hey, you got two milk
cartons under that table!
- Fernie? Fernie?
- Hey!
Happens to so many kids.
The ones who don't fit in,
- they get pushed out.
- This boy made a poor choice.
He didn't have a choice.
You don't know Fernie.
Oh, I know Fernie.
At least he didn't kill the guy.
He was going to graduate high school.
Now what's he supposed to do?
If he wants to fight,
he can fight in the army.
Know what
I'm talking about?
- Is there another choice?
- It's an honor.
- Is Al going to the army?
- No.
If the government asks,
he will go.
The country
must defend itself.
- From what?
- Communism.
We're not stopping communism,
we're probably spreading it.
She's right. I can't
believe I'm defending you.
I'm defending you,
if you go to the army,
they'll send you to the front line.
That's where they send all the Chicanos.
I've heard that too,
Panfilo. I believe it.
That's where Woody's
brother got killed.
If you want to live in this country,
you must be willing to die for it.
All the good things
we have in America...
it's not for free.
That's what's great about our countries,
we can question our leaders.
You're all so smart,
start your own country.
- Papi, I'm ready.
- Okay, let's go.
- Hey, what are you doing here?
- The principals know we're blowing out.
- Julian Nava talked to Sal.
- What?
They know everything:
who's on the committees, when we meet.
- How'd they find out?
- Nava thinks it was the police.
- Come on, we're meeting.
- I can't, I have work.
Well, can't you
get out of it?
Papi, Vickie's gonna take me.
- Bye. We gotta pick up Bobby and Yoli.
- Okay, go go go.
Aren't we going
to La Piranya?
No, the church.
La chota closed us down.
The police know who we are.
They know what we're up to.
That's why they
closed down La Piranya.
Somebody here's
talking to them.
Snitch.
On behalf of all the outside
agitators in this room,
I'd like to send a special
message to the police.
- Que viva la raza!
- Que viva!
Wait a minute,
wait a minute.
I have a special message
for the informant,
whoever you are.
Que viva!
Whoo whoo!
Paula is one
of our best students,
but she's fallen in
with a radical crowd.
- Is she breaking any school rules?
- Not technically.
Paula's trying to convince
her fellow students
to boycott the school.
She's trying to stage a walkout.
I'm sure you can appreciate
the position that puts me in.
Your daughter
is a good student.
And Paula, when you get to college,
you can protest all you want--
hell, it's probably
an elective.
If I have to expel one student
to protect all the others, I'll do it.
I'm sorry,
what was that?
He says he will speak
to his daughter.
Good.
I'd hate to see Paula lose everything
she's worked so hard to attain.
Paula,
these men are serious.
They're gonna make
an example of you!
They're just scared
'cause they know we're right.
You are risking everything.
I told you to stay away
from these agitators.
Why do you listen
to those people?
They don't care about you.
In a few months,
you graduate...
do whatever you want.
Get married, have babies,
work-- whatever!
Go back to school.
Go back.
- Mr. Castro.
- Yeah?
I don't know
if I can do this.
What?
W-what's the matter?
Principal Ingles said that he
would expel me if I did the walkouts.
What?
He can't do that.
You have every right
to protest.
But what if he can?
What if he could take away
everything that I worked for?
The one thing that
I accomplished in life?
- Oh.
- What would you do?
I can't answer that
for you, I...
- You're my teacher.
- Yeah, you're right, you're right.
Every choice has a set
of consequences, right?
And you're gonna have to live
through those consequences, not me.
Aren't you scared?
Never.
You got fired, right?
From your last job?
For the tortilla movement.
Yeah.
There was no Mexican-Americans
in student council.
So I helped them put together
a political party.
And it was good,
they were good.
They ran a strong
campaign, you know,
and it came down
to the final debate,
and they delivered
their platform in Spanish.
Which follows
which political rule?
- Consolidate your power base.
- That's right.
It was a scene.
You shoulda seen it.
One half was going crazy, the other half
didn't know what the hell was going on,
and the principal comes out
and takes the mic.
He says, "You can't speak
a foreign language in L.A. schools."
Mr. Castro,
you know that.
Did you know the original
California Constitution
was written
in Spanish and English?
They were
both official languages.
But you still got fired.
It was a good lesson.
Kids learned
about politics.
Guess you did too.
Well, that was my choice.
Now you have to
make your choice.
Thank you.
I have been looking
all over for you.
- Wilson walked out.
- What?
I know, I know. They didn't
tell anybody, they just did it.
Come on, we have to
have a meeting.
What's wrong?
You go ahead,
I have work.
Can't you get out of it?
Yeah, but...
I'm not going to.
The schools are supposed
to walk out together.
- Exactly.
- That's the point.
- Right on, Robert.
- Yeah, Robert, what happened?
Were you a part of it?
I didn't tell them to,
they just did it.
We know that. Why?
Principal canceled some play,
actors got all pissed off
and just started yelling,
"Walkout," and they walked out.
- We're gonna get blamed anyway.
- That's a joke.
The other schools
have to go out now.
- Yeah, we're gonna get blamed anyway.
- No, hey. Whoa whoa whoa,
- no no. Hold on, wait a minute.
- No. No more waiting.
- No, we're not ready.
- We don't have a choice.
Wilson jumped the gun.
- We go out tomorrow. Who's with me?
- I'm with you.
Yeah, man, I think
we should go out.
- Hold on.
- Hold it, one at a time, guys.
Okay. Uh... was there
any cameras there?
- No.
- No, no photographers, no reporters?
I don't think so.
- Didn't happen.
- What are you talking about?
- The walkout didn't happen.
- Mr. Castro, we know it happened.
Well, no no no, if the news
wasn't there, then it didn't happen.
Tune in tomorrow, Sal,
'cause we're going out.
You're not ready yet.
You're not organized.
- We're organized.
- How many picket signs do you have?
What do they say?
Who's gonna carry them?
- Hey, Paula.
- And what about the gangs?
We'll be walking
right into their territory.
And what about
after the walkout?
How about the news stations?
Has anybody talked to the news stations?
You talk
to the news stations?
You know what happened
today at Wilson?
Nothing. Whole bunch
of kids got home early.
A bunch of kids stood up
for what they believed in.
Yeah, but everybody
has beliefs.
You want to inspire people
with what you believe,
- you gotta get organized.
- We don't have to listen to this--
- we could blowout tomorrow.
- You have to get organized.
Chavez organized
the farmworkers.
Dr. King organized
the blacks.
- Gandhi, he organized India.
- Also, Che and Zapata.
Yeah, you don't think
they're organized?
You take your time,
you do your work,
you'll inspire people.
How long do you think
it'll take us?
Two years.
No, I'm just...
No no. A week, a week.
It'll take a week.
- Wednesday at the earliest.
- We said tomorrow.
Know what?
Let's put it to a vote.
- Let the kids vote.
- No.
Yes. Sal's right.
They're the ones
with the most to lose.
All those in favor of walking
out tomorrow, please raise your hand.
Wednesday?
All right,
let's get organized.
All right, blowout committee,
Brown Berets, ready?
Ready! Where's Cal State?
- Ready.
- Loyola's ready. What about UCLA?
- Ready!
- Long Beach, USC, Northridge?
All right, Brown Berets,
listen up.
Remember, you keep between
the cops and the kids, you got it?
Passive resistance. If those
pigs try to grab you, go limp.
Make no mistake, mi gente,
la placa knows this is coming.
The LAPD,
the FBI, the CIA,
Sheriffs' Department and everybody
else is gonna be there tomorrow,
so I want the Brown Berets and UMAS,
use your head. Take care of these kids.
If any heads get busted,
make sure it's yours, okay?
I have a question.
What if nobody
walks out?
They'll walk out.
We're gonna walk out.
Tomorrow,
all the schools.
If we back down now...
how are we ever
gonna stand back up again?
Papi's gonna
trip out, huh?
Good?
I hope you know
what you're doing.
It's gonna be okay.
With 52 deaths today,
the total number
of American casualties
in Vietnam now stands
at 23,042.
There is very little hope
for peace on the horizon.
U.S. troops are now bogged
down in a four-year conflict
with no end in sight.
Are you nervous?
Paula?
Did you get to sleep?
No, not really.
Good morning.
Everybody's in a good mood?
- Yeah.
- Good morning.
Walkout.
- Walkout, Garfield.
- Belmont, walkout!
- Roosevelt, walkout!
- Wilson, walkout.
Walkout.
Paula, what are
you doing?
Sorry, Mr. Hurley.
Paula, get back
in your seat, please.
Walkout.
Walkout!
Lincoln, walkout!
- Walkout!
- Paula.
- Where is everybody?
- Be strong, be strong, be strong.
Walkout!
- Walkout!
- All right, let's take attendance.
Walkout!
Rodriguez,
sit back down.
- Rodriguez!
- Walkout!
Walkout!
Come on! Walkout!
- Walkout!
- Walkout!
Roosevelt, walkout!
Roosevelt, walkout!
Wilson, walkout!
- Walkout!
- Let's go, come on!
Walkout! Walkout!
Walkout!
Come on, you guys!
All right,
let's take attendance.
- Chiapa.
- Here.
Walkout! Come on,
you guys, keep it going!
- Viva la raza!
- Viva!
Walkout! Walkout!
Walkout! Walkout!
Come on, you guys!
Walkout!
Walkout!
Other side, other side.
Walkout! Walkout!
Stay on the sidewalk,
stay together, move!
- Chicano!
- Power!
- Yes, it's really happening!
- Yeah!
Hey, keep all these people
on the sidewalk!
Let's go, keep moving!
Off the street!
Get these people off the street!
- Chicano!
- Power!
Excuse me.
Excuse me?
Aren't you Sal Castro, the teacher
who orchestrated today's walkout?
Y-yes, I am Sal Castro,
and uh... no, I-I didn't
orchestrate the uh... walkouts.
The uh... kids did it
in their own.
- Why do you think they did it?
- Well, the Mexican-American community
has long been referred to
as the uh... sleeping giant.
And uh... today he's getting
his wake up call.
- Chicano!
- Power!
- Viva la raza!
- Viva!
We want equal education
for all! Chicano!
- Chicano! Chicano!
- Honey.
Honey, come here.
What is she doing?
Listen up, everybody! I just
got off the phone with Julian Nava,
and the school board said they're
gonna consider our demands...
- next week.
- Whoo-hoo!
We won, yeah!
Hey, man-- hey, wait a minute.
We didn't win nothing.
A phone call from a coconut saying
he's gonna consider our demands?
Yeah, they're called
negotiations.
Yeah, I know how
they negotiate with Chicanos.
We give
and they take.
Well, let's wait and see
what they come back with.
Oh no!
Hey!
Wait a minute,
hold on, hold on,
- wait a minute, hold on.
- We back off now, we're old news.
All right, what if we meet
the board halfway?
Some schools walk out,
others stay in?
- A show of weakness.
- You already sent the message.
- Well, let's send it louder.
- Yeah.
Okay okay okay okay.
Let the schools decide.
- Yeah.
- Fine, all right.
- Wilson.
- Garfield,
- Lincoln.
- Roosevelt.
- Berets.
- Belmont.
All right.
Garfield?
We're undecided.
- Lincoln?
- Lincoln's gonna stay in.
- Roosevelt?
- We're walking.
- All right.
- Wilson?
Wilson stands down
with Lincoln.
- Belmont?
- Blowout.
Blowout!
All right!
Why were you
so quiet tonight?
I don't know.
Everyone else was talking,
I just, uh... didn't have
that much to say.
Look, I uh...
I'm uh...
I'm glad you're not
walking out tomorrow.
I, um...
I have to go.
Yeah?
I-- my dad's
probably, um...
waiting for me right now
so I-- I have to-- yeah.
- So I'll call you tomorrow?
- It's probably better if I call you.
All right.
Roosevelt and Belmont
are walking out tomorrow.
Give me enough men
to cover these two schools.
I want to put
a stop to this.
Yeah, we know all about
this Brown Beret group.
They're a potentially militant,
dangerous group.
Any kind of communist
affiliation, foreign agents?
My own daughter enters
the house like a thief.
Papi, I didn't want
to wake anybody.
So now you are concerned
about your family?
I saw you on TV.
My daughter, standing
on a car,
waving a sign.
- How do you think I felt?
- Proud?
- No.
- Did you read the sign?
- Does not matter.
- Did you read the sign?
You were waving it
in the face of a policeman.
- "Equal education for all."
- What is wrong with you?
What is wrong
with what you have?
I don't know, I just don't
want to be like you.
Get in.
I brought you some clothes,
and your books.
Your aunt has
a spare room.
I'm going to Vickie's.
He'll cool down
in a few days.
Fathers tend
to worry, you know?
Especially about
their daughters.
I'll handle Papi.
My father used to tell me,
"Never fall in love with a sailor."
Mom, I know how
you met Dad.
I got pregnant.
It's been 20 years,
we've had very few easy days.
Make sure you can live
with the decisions
that you make, mija.
Damn. We can't
even get close.
All right, get those signs
to the kids. Move it.
- Let's go.
- Quickly, quickly.
Let's go, people.
Let's go, man.
- Come on.
- If we have to push back, we will.
Wait for my command.
Line up now.
Come on.
Are we making
the right decision?
I really don't know.
Roll-call.
Mickey, I need you
to sit back down.
You need to sit back down
in your seat, Mickey!
Belmont, walkout.
Walkout, Garfield!
Walkout!
Blowout! Walk-- walkout! -
Garfield, walkout!
I need everybody to go
back to your seats.
Stay seated. I need you
to stay in your seats.
Please, Sylvia do--
Angela, don't do this.
Stop, I need you
to... stop.
Stop! I need you
to step back.
What?
Open your books
to page 49.
Walkout! Walkout!
Walkout! Walkout!
This is an unlawful assembly.
By the order
of the State of California,
- you must return to your schools!
- Get back inside!
You're making
a big mistake.
- We can't let these guys intimidate us.
- Keep them on the line.
Students are coming
from everywhere.
Susan, make sure these kids
keep moving, okay?
Don't let them stop, don't let
them stop. Keep 'em moving.
All right, all right,
all right! Back inside!
Back inside! Back in...
Walkout, Garfield!
Walkout!
Excuse me, students,
what is going on out here?
Walkout, Garfield!
- We have to.
- Yeah, do it.
Walkout! Walkout!
Carlos! The gate,
get it open!
- Armando, David, let's go!
- The gate!
You have two minutes!
Walkout!
Walkout!
No! Go back!
Go back!
Return to your classrooms
or you will be arrested!
Walkout! Walkout!
- Yeah!
- Stay off the street!
Go! Stay on the sidewalk!
Keep moving.
Stay off the street!
Keep moving,
keep moving.
It's locked!
- Please, no!
- It's locked!
- We can't go anywhere!
- Please open! It's locked!
One minute!
Better back up!
Clear them out!
Get off me! Get off!
Stop! Stop hitting them!
Get off the bleachers
or you will be arrested!
I repeat.
Get down from the bleachers
or you will be arrested!
Chrisistomo.
Chrisistomo.
- Paula?
- Here.
Student protests continued
for a second consecutive day
as two East L.A. schools
boycotted classes.
Unlike yesterday's
peaceful demonstrations,
where all five area schools
marched in solidarity,
today's smaller protest
was marred by student violence.
Fortunately, a heavy police
presence kept order
resulting in only
a handful of arrests.
Commentator Earl Brown
has some thoughts
about the events
of the last two days.
What is the Mexican-American
community saying to us
with these random displays
of juvenile rebellion?
Are they just children
acting out?
Or is there
a much more dangerous element
entering the story?
Chief of Police
Tom Reddin has specifically
alluded to outside agitators,
many with ties
to the Communist Party.
But let us ask ourselves,
has it simply become the vogue
for our younger generation
to attack the very institutions
which are the cornerstones
of our society?
For we, the people
of Los Angeles, know all too well
the results of these types of attacks
when radical youth take the law
into their own hands.
Chief Reddin
had these comments.
Work still remains. I think we've seen
the last of these so-called walkouts.
- Like hell, you have.
- The aftermath
- of the Watts riots illustrated...
- Can't believe what they did.
- that civil unrest must be countered
- Neither can I.
- by swift and precise police action.
- Turn it off.
So we got, um...
we got kids in jail...
and in the hospital.
And all the footage
that, uh...
the kids
were being beat up with,
none of it, uh...
none of it made it
on the-- on the news.
They want to pretend
that it didn't happen.
It didn't happen.
Tomorrow's Friday.
I say we take a stand.
They won't let you
just walk out.
We can win
this one, Sal.
We need an escort.
I'll bring my abuela.
He's right though,
'cause they don't hit abuelas.
Bullshit.
My abuela hits back.
Why don't we
just invite everybody?
Parents, brothers, primos.
Kids?
Why not?
Uh... okay,
every school...
has to walk out together,
at the same time.
Yup.
Together, yeah.
All in favor...
say "Yea."
Yea!
Lincoln, let's walk out.
Walkout! Walkout! Walkout!
Walkout! Walkout!
You know what happened yesterday.
Come on, this is dangerous.
Come on guys,
it's like lambs to the slaughter.
La raza!
Walkout! Walkout!
Walkout!
- If they come at you, don't resist.
- Walkout!
- Walkout!
- If they come at you, don't resist.
Okay.
- Walkout! Chicano!
- Power!
- Chicano!
- Power!
Viva la raza!
- Viva la raza!
- Que viva!
- Chicano!
- Power!
- Chicano!
- Que viva!
- Viva la raza!
- Que viva!
- La raza!
- Que viva!
Que viva...!
Leave our children alone!
Your papi's gonna trip.
Anything to say?
It's a beautiful day
to be a Chicano.
And in that spirit,
we're forming a committee
of parents to take over
where the kids left off.
And I'd like to introduce to you
Dr. Julian Nava, ladies and gentlemen.
I have some very good news.
The board has agreed
to convene on a special session
at Lincoln High
tomorrow evening.
Looks like
you got their attention.
We did it,
we made them listen,
and we didn't even have to be
sneaky about what we wanted.
- That's a good thing.
- Yeah.
I-- I gotta go.
Well, actually um...
there's something
I wanna ask you.
Do you wanna go
to the prom with me?
- I don't know, um...
- You don't have to.
I mean, it...
No, I'd like to.
I would.
I'd like to.
- I have to go.
- Okay okay.
Compulsory bilingual
and bicultural education
will be enacted in all
East Los Angeles high schools.
Corporal punishment
must be stopped.
Janitorial duties should not be
assigned to students as punishment.
Students who speak Spanish
in the classrooms
should not be reprimanded.
Chicanos deserve
a right to a higher education.
No student should be discouraged
from pursuing a college track.
Teachers who show
any form of prejudice
must be transferred
out of the district.
No students or teachers
are to be reprimanded
for participating
in the recent demonstrations.
And restrooms
are to remain open
to all students
at all times.
Viva la raza!
Que viva!
You like it?
Oh, really?
Oh, thank you!
Here, let's put them on.
They're gonna bring you
good luck tonight.
You'll see.
- Chicano!
- Power!
You Moctesuma Esparza?
- Yes.
- You're under arrest.
- No!
- No!
No more violence! No!
Are you David Sanchez?
LAPD,
you're under arrest.
Gentlemen, you are
under arrest.
Hey, we got a right
to be here, man.
Hey, you got a warrant?
Get your hands off me.
Paula.
Please come with me.
Hey, what's wrong?
- What happened?
- The police are arresting everybody.
Mocte, Risco,
Armando, David--
- they're all in jail.
- What about Robert?
I don't know.
They probably
arrested Robert.
We have to go find Sal.
He'll know what to do.
Mr. Castro!
- Sal, where is he?
- He's downtown.
Such an idiot.
I will call my dad right now.
He can take all of us.
- It's not fair.
- This is just social injustice, man.
- We have to defend ourselves.
- Listen listen! Stop!
We have to get them
out of jail.
That's all we know.
There's gonna be a bail hearing.
Someone's got a line
on a Chicano lawyer.
Like there is
such a thing.
Hey, man, these are
serious charges, all right?
Wait a second, you just said that
disrupting the school is a misdemeanor.
They didn't charge them
with disrupting a school.
The charged them
with the conspiracy to disrupt a school.
- A conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor?
- Exactly.
Wait a minute,
that doesn't sound so bad.
It's a felony, Bobby. Our friends
are looking at serious time.
How much?
- 66 years.
- What?
on school lockers?
That's a life sentence.
Hey, they'll never
make that stick.
Yes, they can.
Robert was with us the whole time.
- He'll tell them everything.
- Paula, it's not your fault.
Papi?
I wanted to say
that I was sorry.
For everything.
You said those who take
chances vas a ver. Bang.
They get hit.
I didn't know
what I was doing.
Mr. Castro, Mocte,
the Brown Berets--
they were all arrested
and thrown into jail.
You step
in the ring...
...you get hit.
I should have
listened to you.
Now you've
disrespected your father,
and now you're
just going to quit?
You won't
give in to me...
but you're gonna
give in to them?
I don't agree
with what you were doing...
but they had no right
to beat you kids that way.
Do you know why...
nobody wants
to fight Latino boxers?
Because they don't quit.
Yeah.
They never give up.
Bobby?
This is the plan.
You want me
to go to college?
Mita, you, me
and everybody,
we have to
make a statement.
Okay, listen.
What do you think
I should be, Pancha, huh?
How about
an ornithologist, huh?
Maybe I'll teach Spanish.
Mexican-American? Nah.
Chicano, right?
What are you gonna be
when you grow up, Bobby?
I don't know.
When I find out...
then I'm gonna be it.
Free the East L.A. 13!
Free the East L.A. 13!
Free the East L.A. 13!
Free the East L.A. 13!
Move move, go go go!
Get out of the way! Come on!
- Go on, move it!
- Get out of my way!
Out of the way!
Get out of the way!
Go go go go!
Officers, hold this line!
Please disperse
and move down!
You must be
on the sidewalk!
I repeat: Please disperse
and move back!
Sir, please let me
speak with them.
I know these people.
Make it quick.
Paula, please.
Help me stop this.
Okay? Before anybody
gets hurt.
They posted bail,
they're gonna be out soon.
I wanted to tell you.
I just didn't know how.
I was doing my job.
We trusted you.
Well, what did you accomplish
with the walkouts?
Schools aren't gonna change.
The dropout rate's not gonna change.
Nothing's gonna change.
Y-you might have ruined
Was it worth it?
Yeah.
It was worth it.
You know, the schools
may not have changed, but we did.
Sal!
Sal!
Thank you!
Sal!
- Thank you, Sal!
- Thank you!
Thank you, Sal!
Yeah, Sal!
Sal, thank you!
- Chicano!
- Power!
- Que viva la raza!
- Que viva!
- Que viva Sal Castro!
- Que viva!
- Chicano!
- Power!
Chicano power!
What the walkouts did--
it focused the attention
now on the Chicanos in the city,
because these kids
were serious.
A lot of us had
the same sort of...
complaints about what
was happening in our lives,
as far as our education,
so we decided to take a survey.
That's when we started
to gather that information
and started interacting
with the school districts,
saying, "You're not
meeting our needs,
and-- lookit, we want
to go to college."
It was the political evolution
of a group of young Chicanos
in East L.A. and asserting
their rural identity
and then getting involved
and realizing
that they system wouldn't change
unless you became more direct action.
My decision to walk out was
probably the lightest decision
in terms of what I would've
liked to have done at that point,
with that kind of youth,
energy and anger.
To see outright
hostility, brutality...
it didn't match the thing
that we were doing.
We didn't commit a crime,
we were protesting.
The blowouts
made us all realize
that collectively
we had a strong voice
and it gave us a power that we
didn't realize that we had before.
This was a time in which
enough Chicano students
had gained mastery
of the tools that were necessary
to shake up the system
and had taken the ideals
of the country to heart.
And so, we protested
for our rights.
As the bell rang
for the kids to go to school,
into the classroom, out they went
with their heads held high...
with dignity.
It was beautiful
to be a Chicano that day.