Cesar Chavez Commemoration(1)

RESOLUTION 1: Cesar Chavez Commemoration

WHEREAS THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC) supports the purpose of fostering and enlarging the opportunities for training, education, civil rights, job opportunities, housing, economic development, and welfare of all Hispanics in the United States; and,

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was born March 31, 1927 on a small farm near Yuma, Arizona, and died on April 23, 1993;

WHEREAS, numerous holidays, schools, parks, libraries, streets, and events have been named after Cesar E. Chavez, internationally and in California, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Texas, and Hawaii, with many more planned;

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr., Peace Prize during his lifetime, was awarded the Presidential Medal of freedom by President Clinton on August 8, 1994, and 191 received the Aquilia Aztec (The Aztec Eagle), Mexico's highest award presented to people of Mexican heritage who have made major contributions outside Mexico;

WHEREAS, by the age of 10, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant and settler, he grew up working with migrant farm workers, picking grapes, melons, beans, and other crops at low wages and for long hours, during which time he developed a strong work ethic and respect for the farm workers his father called "The Children of God";

WHEREAS, at the age of 18, 1945, Cesar E. Chavez served our country in the Western Pacific during the end of WWII;

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez and his family also dedicated themselves to the education of farm workers' children through migrant schools, many of who graduated and worked as teachers, doctors, nurses, other professional occupations;

WHEREAS, from the beginning the Untied Farm Workers Union adhered to the principals of non-violence practiced by M.K. Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;

WHEREAS, as early as 1949, Cesar E. Chavez committed himself to organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and outlawing of child labor and harmful pesticides.

WHEREAS, in 1962, Cesar E. Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, predecessor of the United Farm Workers of America;

WHEREAS, through his commitment to non-violence, Cesar E. Chavez brought dignity and respect to farm workers who organized themselves, and became an inspiration and resource to Americans and people engaged in human rights struggles through the world;

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez was an advocate for non-violence at a time when violence penetrated every level of our society;

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez lived alongside his campesino sisters, and brothers, the poor, in humble surroundings and upon his passing was laid to rest where he lived and worked for 23 years on the grounds of the headquarters of the United Farm Workers of America, known as Nuestra Senora de la Paz (Our Lady of the Peace), located in the Tehachapi Mountains at Keene, California;

WHEREAS, Cesar E. Chavez and the Latino Community had a long standing relationship throughout his life in the struggle for justice defending the poor, giving dignity, respect and hope to workers;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 1998 National Assembly convened in Dallas, Texas on the 4th day of July, 1998, work to honor Cesar E. Chavez for his tireless commitment to improve the plight of farm workers and the poor throughout the United States and for the inspiration his heroic efforts gave to so many Americans to work non-violently for justice in their communities and that a federal holiday be recognized throughout the United States, and remind themselves of the work of the people who put food on the tables of America.

Approved this 4th day of July, 1998.

Rick Dovalina
LULAC National President