"The Turning Point" The San Francisco State '68 Strike

Intersecting Socio-Political Pressures: During the late 1960s, American citizens, particularly college students, were caught in a convergence of crises:
- The Vietnam War: The escalation of the war and the military draft created intense anxiety; students of color were disproportionately drafted and killed.
- Racial Conflicts: The Civil Rights Movement shifted toward Black Power and radical activism in urban centers.
- Urban Challenges: Issues such as systemic poverty, lack of housing, and police brutality in cities like San Francisco fueled campus unrest.

Institutional Context: A key part of the California State College system since 1899, serving as a primary site for teacher training and liberal arts.
Demographic Disparity:
- Enrollment surged from $12,000$ to $18,000$ students over a decade.
- Despite this growth, total Black student enrollment plummeted from $11\%$ to less than $3\%$ , signaling systemic exclusion or "white flight" within higher education.

Catalysts for Unrest: Overcrowding led to diminished resources, exacerbating racial tensions.
The Draft: Fear of the Vietnam War draft forced students to evaluate the relevance of their education to their survival.
Organized Resistance: Student groups began exploring radical solutions to institutional racism and the perceived "imperialist" nature of the war.

Early Escalation: Protests began with picket lines at the HLL (Humanities, Language, and Literature) Building.
Police Intervention: The administration's use of the San Francisco Police Department’s Tactical Squad aimed to clear demonstrators and maintain "order," which often resulted in violent clashes.
Picket Strategy: Striking students initially attempted to limit disruptions to between-class intervals but were increasingly met with aggressive police dispersal tactics.

The Spark: The strike officially commenced on November 6, 1968, shortly after the election of Richard Nixon.
The Ten Demands: Formulated by the Black Student Union (BSU) and supported by the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), these included:
- The immediate restoration of George Murray to his position.
- The creation of a Black Studies Department with the power to hire and fire faculty.
- Open admissions for all Black and minority students.
George Murray's Suspension:
- Murray was a graduate student and teaching assistant, as well as the Minister of Education for the Black Panther Party.
- He was suspended by Chancellor Glenn Dumke under political pressure following speeches where he allegedly advocated for students to bring guns to campus for self-defense and criticized the "racist" administration.

Anti-War Stance: Murray argued that the Vietnam War was a "racist war" where Black and Brown men were used as pawns by the U.S. government to suppress other people of color abroad.
Systemic Critique: He claimed that the educational system was a tool of oppression designed to keep minorities in a subordinate social position.

Chancellor Glenn Dumke: Bypassed local campus autonomy by ordering Murray's suspension, citing political necessity and campus safety.
Dr. Robert Smith's Resignation: The College President initially tried to negotiate but surrendered to the reality of the violence, eventually closing the campus indefinitely before being replaced by the more hardline S.I. Hayakawa.

Indefinite Closure: Instruction was halted to prevent further bloodshed, leading to emergency faculty sessions.
Faculty Sentiments: Many faculty members were split; however, a significant portion joined the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) local chapter to strike alongside the students.
Critique of Policing: Faculty and students alike criticized the "militarization" of the campus and the presence of outside police forces.

Third World Liberation Front (TWLF): A historic coalition of the BSU, Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Intercollegiate Chinese for Social Action (ICSA), and others.
Labor Solidarity: The strike was unique because it bridged the gap between student activism and labor unions, involving cafeteria staff, janitors, and off-campus community leaders.

The Longest Strike: Lasting five months, it remains the longest student strike in U.S. history.
Establishment of Ethnic Studies: The strike forced the administration to create the first College of Ethnic Studies in the United States (1969).
Media and Narrative: Students actively fought against media portrayals that labeled them as "thugs" or "militants," instead framing their struggle as a fight for the fundamental right to an education that reflected their own histories and identities.