THere Were Two Cafeteria Take-Overs In June 1969

7/1/2019

I came across a couple of newspaper articles about hot-topic events, which occurred while I was at M&A. I decided to share them because others must have a lot more information about these situations than what's in the article. I'm looking forward to the opinions and photographs concerning these exciting and nerve-wrecking happenings.

In general, during the early part of June 1969, there were two separate student take-overs of the basement cafeteria. They occurred because of the suspension of the President of the Student General Organization, Donald Reeves.

The first sit-in took place on Tuesday, 6/3/69 and the second was on Friday, 6/6/69.

DAILY NEWS Newspaper - Wednesday, June 4, 1969

(L) Donald Reeves

End of article

DAILY NEWS Newspaper - Saturday, June 7, 1969

Angered by their principal's refusal to promise them amnesty in all future demonstrations, 150 of the 2,000 students at the High School of Music and Art seized the school cafeteria again yesterday.

End of article

Were you there during either event? Were you at both? What did you hear?

4 Comments

Gena

7/1/2019 09:14:15 pm

Don was SGA President in 1970 when I started at M&A. I didn’t know his history, but very proud of the legacy and of Klein’s willingness to meet with the students.

Lloyd A. Green link

7/2/2019 03:41:10 pm

Agreed. He seemed like a great organizer. Ahead of his time.

Sandy Gregory

12/21/2019 12:01:21 pm

I remember when Martin was assassinated. The next morning, somehow, word got out that all NYC High Schools we’re leaving school and heading to Central Park. We left school; students and teachers together walked down the steps through St Nicholas Park and got on the train. Amazingly, a candy machine ( remember those?) on the train platform caught my eye... It was open.Needless to say, we ate plenty of Hershey Bars, Mr Goodbars, Milky Ways and whatever else was in there. We would need that energy to carry us through that somber and fateful day at the Fountain, and Wollman Skating Rink where we found comfort in each other, trying to understand our grief, pain, and anger at the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King. I met my 6 th grade teacher in the park that day. I knew she’d be there. Much respect to Mrs Bella Scheckner who taught us about African Americans’
contribution to the United States. We protested, screamed, and cried together that day. Toward the later afternoon, we went to City Hall to protest some more .
Music & Art was there. Black, white, Puerto Rican, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Moslem,
We all went through a rite of passage that day in April of 1968. I was never more proud of my high school and of the students and teachers of New York City for standing up for Martin Luther King and for freedom, justice and equality.

12/25/2019 01:55:33 pm

What an amazing story. Would you mind if I use your story as a lead and ask others about their similar experiences?

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THere Were Two Cafeteria Take-Overs In June 1969

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