The San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) student strike of 1968–1969 was a pivotal moment in the history of American higher education, marking the longest student-led strike in the nation’s history. Initiated on November 6, 1968, the strike was led by the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), a coalition of various ethnic student organizations. Their primary demands included the establishment of a Black Studies Department, increased enrollment and support for students of color, and the rehiring of faculty members like George Mason Murray, a graduate student and member of the Black Panther Party who had been suspended. ?

Throughout the strike, tensions escalated between students and the administration, leading to multiple confrontations and arrests. In response to the unrest, the college administration decided to suspend classes on December 13, 1968, initiating the winter holiday recess one week earlier than scheduled. This suspension aimed to deescalate the situation and provide a cooling-off period for all parties involved.?

The strike continued into early 1969, culminating in an agreement on March 20, 1969, which led to the establishment of the nation’s first College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State College. This groundbreaking development paved the way for similar programs across the country, fundamentally transforming the landscape of higher education by promoting inclusivity and diversity in academic curricula.?