CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

A participatory project to collect and preserve the histories of the City University of New York

Newton Hall Statement

“We as white students, can either be a part of the solution or a part of the problem. At Huey P. Newton Hall of Political Action we are attempting to become a part of the solution.”

In solidarity with black and Puerto Rican students, a group of white students occupied City College's Klapper Hall at 135 Street and Convent Avenue and renamed it "Huey P. Newton Hall for Political Action," after the co-founder of the Black Panther Party.

This statement was written from within “Newton Hall” by occupying students and calls for the administration’s “unequivocal acceptance” of the Five Demands. It argues that white students should join them in supporting the strike. The announcement of a meeting and an analysis of the Five Demands, which pertains to the need for greater diversity and representation on campus is included in the statement.

Violence between pro-strike and anti-strike students and the police eventually led to the resignation of CCNY president Buell Gallagher on May 12th. Nevertheless, the protestors' persistence forced the administration to negotiate and make some agreements related to the students demands. This series of events was one of several that helped to pave the way for the policy of Open Admissions that began in fall 1970.

Source | McGuire, Ron
Creator | Unknown
Date Created | 1969
Rights | Obtain From McGuire, Ron
Item Type | Text (Report / Paper / Proposal)
Cite This document | Unknown, “Newton Hall Statement,” CUNY Digital History Archive, accessed March 19, 2024, https://cdha.cuny.edu/items/show/6942.

Print and Share