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Resolution
Renaming Canon Lakes Drive to Cesar Chavez Drive
WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was a civil rights,
Latino, farm worker, and labor leader; a
religious and spiritual figure; a community
servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for
nonviolent social change; and an
environmentalist and consumer advocate; and
WHEREAS, for more than three
decades Cesar E. Chavez led the first successful
farm workers union in American history achieving
dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage,
pension benefits, and humane living condition,
as well as countless other rights and
protections for hundreds of thousands of farm
workers. Against previously insurmountable odds,
he led successful strikes and boycotts that
resulted in the first industry-wide labor
contracts in the history of American
agriculture. His union’s efforts brought about
the passage of the found breaking 1975
California Agricultural Labor Relations Act to
protect farm workers. Today, it remains the only
law in the nation that protects the farm
workers’ right to unionize; and
WHEREAS, the significance and
impact of Cesar’s life transcends any one cause
or struggle. He was a unique and humble leader,
in addition to being a great humanitarian and
communicator who influenced and inspired
millions of Americans to seek social justice and
civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised in
our society. Cesar Chavez a common man with an
uncommon vision for human kind stood for
equality, justice and dignity for all Americans.
His ecumenical principals remain relevant and
inspiring today for all people; and
WHEREAS, a strong believer in
the principles of nonviolence practiced by
Mahatma Gandi and Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.
Cesar effectively employed peaceful tactics such
as fasts, boycotts, strikes and pilgrimages, In
1968 he fasted for 25 to affirm his personal
commitment and that of the farm labor movement
to non-violence. He fasted again for 25 days in
1972, and in 1988, at the age of 61, he endured
a 36-day “Fast for Life” to highlight the
harmful impact of pesticides on farm workers and
their children.
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez’s motto
in life: “si se puede” (it can be done),
embodies the uncommon and invaluable legacy he
left for the world’s benefit. Since his death,
dozens of communities across the nation have
renamed schools, parks, streets, libraries,
other public facilities, awards and scholarships
in his honor, as well as enacting holidays on
his birthday, March 31. In 1994 he was
posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.
WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez Drive
would be the first Lubbock street to possess the
name of any Latino, thus honoring Latino
contributions.
WHEREAS, the street name
change would bring further attention to the site
of a past migrant labor camp in Aztlan Park,
where many Hispanic families first evolved.
WHEREAS, Canyon Lakes Drive is
on the course of the Fiesta Plaza, which was
built for the intention of holding festivals and
drawing public interest and tourism to North
Lubbock. Further development of the lake areas
is anticipated in the future. This tourism
opportunity has the potential to spur economic
development to North and East Lubbock, which
have a growing need for jobs and improvement.
WHEREAS, Lubbock would be the
first city to cross Marin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
and Cesar E. Chavez Drive, thus encouraging two
districts to work together to sustain the
contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Cesar E. Chavez; two heroes that worked to
promote non-violence and humanity in the U.S.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by
the League of United Latin American Citizens
supports the efforts of the Cesar E. Chavez
Celebration Committee in its efforts to propose
changing the name of Canyon Lakes Drive in
Lubbock, Texas to Cesar E. Chavez Drive.
Adopted this 14th day of July
2007.
Rosa Rosales
LULAC National President |
