“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” César Chávez
César Chávez devoted his adult life to work for social justice. He was one of the most respected civil rights leaders of the 20th century working tirelessly for fair wages and better working conditions for farm workers and civil rights for every American. He inspired a nation to awaken to promote economic, political, environmental and social justice.
César Chávez Day of Service is a state holiday in 11 states including California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Nevada. Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) introduced HR 213 in the House of Representatives with 43 co-sponsors. The proposed legislation would establish a legal, public holiday for Cesar Chavez. Please join us in signing the petition to establish César Chávez Day as a national holiday here.
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| Senator Robert F. Kennedy with Cesar Chávez and his wife, Helen Chávez after he broke his fast in 1968 at a mass attended by 8,000 people |
César Estrada Chávez was the son of Mexican-American parents and was born in March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. During the Great Depression his family lost their farm and moved to California where they became migrant farm workers. When he was 15 years old he began working in the fields picking lettuce and beets to help support his family.
In 1952 he joined the Community Service Organization (CSO), a civil rights organization which fought for racial and economic equality. Ten years later he and Dolores Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). César Chávez worked for decades for political, civil, and social rights for foreign born laborers and migrant workers who toiled on American soil, and for social justice and equality for every person.
In 1965 César Chávez threw his support behind Filipino-American farm workers who had organized the Delano grape strike to protest for higher wages. He led the grape pickers in a strike and march and called upon the nation to boycott grapes. That successful boycott lasted five years, with 17 million adult Americans participating in it. It was hailed as the first of many labor victories for the farm workers. In 1970 César Chávez led a boycott against California lettuce growers, and over 10,000 farm workers went on strike. He was jailed for 14 days refusing to stop the boycott.
César Chávez was also an environmentalist who fought for regulations of pesticides that were used in the fields causing illness and death to farm workers.
Chávez was a human rights and civil rights activist. He followed the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, pushing the cause through boycotts, peaceful marches, demonstrations, and fasts. He fasted in 1968, 1972 and 1988 to put a spotlight on "La Causa" and to protest the use of dangerous pesticides.
On April 23, 1993, César Chávez died in his sleep in Arizona, very close to the place he was born. Over 50,000 people attended his funeral in Delano, California where the cause was born.
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| An estimated 50,000 mourners walked in Cesar Chavez's funeral procession |
President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation to Honor César Chávez:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release March 30, 2011
Presidential Proclamation--Cesar Chavez Day
A PROCLAMATION
Our Nation's story of progress is rich with profound struggle and great sacrifice, marked by the selfless acts and fearless leadership of remarkable Americans. A true champion for justice, Cesar Chavez advocated for and won many of the rights and benefits we now enjoy, and his spirit lives on in the hands and hearts of working women and men today. As we celebrate the anniversary of his birth, we honor Cesar Chavez's lasting victories for American workers and his noble methods in achieving them.
Raised in the fields of Arizona and California, Cesar Chavez faced hardship and injustice from a young age. At the time, farm workers toiled in the shadows of society, vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Families like Chavez's were impoverished; exposed to hazardous working conditions and dangerous pesticides; and often denied clean drinking water, toilets, and other basic necessities.
Cesar Chavez saw the need for change and made a courageous choice to work to improve the lives of his fellow farm workers. Through boycotts and fasts, he led others on a path of nonviolence conceived in careful study of the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and Mahatma Gandhi, and in the powerful example of Martin Luther King, Jr. He became a community organizer and began his lifelong advocacy to protect and empower people. With quiet leadership and a powerful voice, Cesar founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) with Dolores Huerta, launching one of our Nation's most inspiring social movements.
Cesar Chavez's legacy provides lessons from which all Americans can learn. One person can change the course of a nation and improve the lives of countless individuals. Cesar once said, "Non-violence is not inaction. . . . Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win." From his inspiring accomplishments, we have learned that social justice takes action, selflessness, and commitment. As we face the challenges of our day, let us do so with the hope and determination of Cesar Chavez, echoing the words that were his rallying cry and that continue to inspire so many today, "Sí, se puede" – "Yes, we can."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31 of each year as Cesar Chavez Day.
I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez's enduring legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
SLA Honors the Legacy of César Chávez by Serving
This March almost 200 students in the Service Learning Academy earned over 600 service learning hours performing service with non-profits and creating their own high quality service projects to honor the legacy of this great labor and human rights activist.
The academy students also conducted a collection of needed supplies for the Hope Community Center. The center has served migrant farm workers and their families for over 40 years.
The HCC sent us a “wish list” with items for the children of the migrant farm workers. Each service learning student and teacher donated a minimum of 3 items from the wish list. Two truckloads of donations were delivered to the HCC in early April.
If you want to support the farm workers please donate the following items from the HCC wish list. You can bring them to the center in Apopka or leave them in the service learning classroom, Room 631.
•Board games for children
•Cupcake pan
•Binoculars
•Tents
•Sleeping bags
•Blow-up mattresses
•Roll-up mats for young children
•Granola bars (box)
•Office Supplies: copy paper (ream) , pens (box), pencils (box), erasers ( box), dry erase markers (box), compasses, folders (box), card stock (ream), envelopes (box), staples (box), paper clips (box), and poster boards (package).
•Paper products: packages of plates, cups, plastic wear, cups for hot and cold.
•Food Gift cards; Gas Gift cards
•Sets of books to use with the book club, Novels for young adult readers, 12 to 15 copies of maybe four or five different books.
•Arts and Craft Kits
•Educational games for after school tutoring: Math 24, scrabble for youngsters, two-sided counters, scientific calculators, and low level high interest books for youth. Fisher Price toys for young children.
•GED books in Espanol; English/Spanish Dictionaries
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