Today in Labor History January 22, 1969: The Third World Liberation Front began its strike at the University of California, Berkeley, for the establishment of an Ethnic Studies department and Third World College. Other demands included the hiring of more people of color to administrative and faculty positions; POC control of POC programs; and financial aid for POC. The strike was the second longest student strike in U.S. history and began just a few months after a similar strike began across the bay at San Francisco State. Several strike leaders were arrested and suspended. Many faculty and staff also joined the strike. Police brutality was rampant and extremely violent. Several strike leaders were beaten unconscious by police and hospitalized. Governor Ronald Reagan called out the National Guard. However, the students ultimately prevailed, with the university opening the first Ethnic Studies Department in the United States on March 7, 1969. SFSU students also prevailed, with their College of Ethnic Studies being established on March 20.
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