A dozen students held a day-long demonstration at Bok Technical High School on November 10, 1967, demanding a course be offered in African-American history; in response, the school's administrators threatened to expel the students. Leaders in the African-American community picketed the high schools with predominantly Black enrollment on November 16, encouraging students to attend a "Black Student Rally" to support the Bok students, who were rumored to have been suspended, at the Board of Education the next day. It was later clarified the twelve Bok students were told not to return to school until they brought a parent with them.
