NEWS: Walkout: The Revolution Begins Saturday

CULTURE: Walkout: The Revolution Begins Saturday

Every once in a while, HBO offers up a culturally-minded docudrama like 2004's Iron Jawed Angels, the story of two radical activists involved in the women's suffrage movement. Their latest socially-conscious, progressive project is Walkout, premiering this Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m. eastern.

Walkout follows the organization and execution of the East L.A. Chicano student protests of 1968. Regarded by many as the birth of the urban Chicano civil rights movement, the East Los Angeles student walkouts of '68 were peaceful actions against the injustices of the discriminatory public school system. The civil rights movement that they inspired led to positive change affecting farm workers, education, voting and political rights.

It's an historically interesting moment for HBO to air this film. Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who was being held for genocide and other war crimes, was found dead in his cell last Saturday. Milosevic, whose Serbian presidency is associated with unthinkable brutality and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Croatia, was overthrown, in large part, by student activists. Even MTV was on hand to film the student-fueled protests that led up to the October 5th Revolution,—the culmination of events that toppled Milosevic's regime.

While at first glance the 1968 student walkouts and the more recent (though geographically distant) October 5th Revolution may seem to have little in common, both events serve as a compelling reminder of just how powerful student-fueled protests can be. A lot of Americans look back on the 1960s with nostalgia and longing. It was a turbulent decade, fraught with conflicts over issues ranging from civil rights to war, but it taught us that students, young people, and common workers could unite, make their voices heard, and effect social, political, and cultural change. Walkout, which introduces the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement (one of the least studied social movements of the 60s), is a unique lens through which to view a legendary decade defined by protest and change.

Today we face a lot of the same issues that our predecessors did in the 60s and 70s, and yet comparably, the contemporary American historical moment is one of overwhelming apathy and inaction. American citizens have their pick of serious domestic and international issues, but save for a handful of peace activists and protestors here and there, we seem to have lost our voices and forgotten how to effect change. Perhaps Walkout, which will air repeatedly through the end of April in typical HBO style, will remind viewers how important and effective their voices and actions can be.

I think that student protest would be more effective if it wasn't squandered on obscure bullshit and personal attacks related to issues that have nothing to do with civil rights or corruption. I think that the apathy is a result of being bombarded with partisan conspiracy theory, wild conjector, and total bullshit. Throw in personal attacks of guilt by association (republicans are nazis) and people tune out. THe problem is when the real issues come up and we need protest, and jouralistic ass kicking no one cares or buys it. I guess what I'm saying is if you cry wolf when the wolf come you're fucked.

Guilt by association... meaning Republicans aren't Nazis, they just associate with Nazis? Or that Republicans are Nazis, but people who hang out with Republicans shouldn't be called Nazis by extension?

Don't mind me, free coffee at Starbucks today so I'm a little... aggressive?

The important thing to learn from the 60s is that the establishment learned how to handle dissent, and the dissenters didn't.

You get the gold star for the day!

I don't think they are Nazis. Some/maybe most are greedy, corrupt, resposible for the deaths of thousands in the prosecution of an unjust war, and the party in power for TWO TERMS. If they are Nazis we're a Nazi country. I'm making a reductio ad absurdum argument so don't quote me. I think they question those of us who are unhappy is why do we keep losing? I mean the Democrats lost to W not a Nobel prize winner. Someone needs a new game plan..

Whee, let's play Helennaomi mad libs!