New Latinx fraternity to host screening of HBO film "Walkout"
Poster for HBO film "Walkout."
One of Central Michigan University's newest multicultural fraternities, Sigma Lambda Beta, is hosting a screening of "Walkout," a documentary film about the 1968 Latinx student walkouts in East Los Angeles, at 5 p.m. March 4 in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium.
SLB is a Latino based fraternity with multicultural membership that provides a community for Latinx men and allies at CMU. The viewing and commentary will be SLB's first cultural event as a fraternity newly active after a nearly 10-year absence, according to SLB Vice President Alejandro Salais.
"Hispanic students across the American Southwest faced many injustices, most notably being physically punished for speaking Spanish in class," Salais said. "This led to one of the most impactful student walkouts in U.S. history."
"Walkout" was released in 2006 and directed by Edward James Olmos. The film's executive director, Moctezuma Esparza, was one of the real-life students who was involved in the walkouts.
"(Walkout) tells the true story of a significant movement lead by Latino youth during the Civil Rights era that is often not taught nor mentioned in the American school system," Salais said. "It is important to be informed on the injustices of the past to understand the world we live in today. Plus, it’s a very captivating film."
