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Sign the petition for a César Estrada Chávez National Holiday!
Dear La Prensa Reader,
As UFW Founder César Estrada Chávez’ March 31st birthday approaches—an official holiday in eight states and dozens of cities and communities throughout the nation—we want to ask for your support in making César’s March 31st birthday a national holiday.
Senator Robert F. Kennedy called César, “one of the heroic figures of our time.” He led the historic non-violent movement for farm worker rights and dedicated himself to building a movement of poor working people that extended beyond the fields and into cities and towns across the nation. He inspired farmworkers and millions of people who never worked on a farm to commit themselves to social, economic and civil rights activism.
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César Estrada Chávez
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César’s legacy continues to educate, inspire and empower people from all walks of life.
“Chávez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on. As farmworkers and laborers across U.S.-America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what César Chávez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he’s taught us about making U.S.-America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That’s why I support the call to make César Chávez’s birthday a national holiday. It’s time to recognize the contributions of this U.S.-American icon.”—President Barack Obama.
“César Chávez was one of America’s greatest advocates for justice and equality, and a model of service to others. I am honored to be an original co-sponsor of legislation that would award César Chávez a Congressional Gold Medal for his distinguished service to our nation. With this honor, Congress would recognize his special significance in American history and honor his commitment to social justice.”—U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (9th District, Ohio), 2005.
“I have been a farm worker since I was 8 years old. Even now, working in the fields is hard work, but before César it was so much harder. César made such a difference to the farm workers out in the fields. He unified us all, not just Mexicans [or other Latinos], but Filipinos, black, white and all other races. He gave us the courage to fight for our rights. He made many huge changes for the people who work in the fields. He got us breaks, bathrooms, unemployment insurance, the ALRB and so much more. He also got rid of many dangerous pesticides and he not only worried about farmworkers but for all people so that their food would be safe. César deserves a holiday and so much more.”—Josephina Flores.
“He evoked a spirit and a challenge to all of us to do what was right for its own sake...A national holiday honoring César Chávez would secure his profound legacy.”—Martin Sheen.
The César Chávez National Holiday Coalition is gathering signatures asking U.S. Congress to designate March 31—César’s birthday--as César Chávez Day. The United Farm Workers (UFW) and the César E. Chávez Foundation are proud to support the grassroots efforts of the César E. Chávez National Holiday Coalition.
Please help the UFW, FLOC, and others ensure all U.S.-Americans learn about César’s life and work by signing the petition asking Congress to designate March
31 as César Chávez Day.
Sign the UFW petition today!
Go to: http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/chavezholiday09
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