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The United Farmworkers (UFW) union launched this past week a new web site focusing on the life and work of Cesar Chavez, the founder of that union. Chavez was born on March 31, 1927 near Yuma, Arizona. His family moved to California to work in the fields near San Jose.
In 1962, Chavez founded the UFW, along with labor leader Dolores Huerta, and throughout that decade led thousands of farmworkers in the famous grape boycott culminating in the 340-mile long march from Delano to Sacramento, California demanding legal protections for farmworkers seeking to join the union.
In 1970, the grape growers accepted a union contract with UFW. Chavez was instrumental in building national and international support for the farmworkers during the strikes and boycotts. After his death in 1993, More than 50,000 people honored Chavez's life by marching with him one final time in his funeral procession.
Chavez stood for equality of all people, the dignity of immigrant workers and their families, the right of all workers to organize, and the possibility of hope for all of us when we join together to change our communities and win equality and self-respect for all people.
The new web resources include articles about Chavez's life, videos, audio recordings of his speeches, and action supporters can take to honor his memory. You can also sign a national petition to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday.
Find this valuable online resource at www.ufw.org/cesarchavez.
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