UNITED FARM WORKERS LEADER
∗ Born March 31, 1927 near Yuma
∗ Moved to California at age 12 after family was swindled out of their Arizona ranch and store during the Great Depression; family worked as migrant workers in fields throughout California; witnessed first-hand the wretched conditions, unfair labor practices and racism facing workers
∗ Joined U.S. Navy in 1946, serving two years
∗ Introduced to labor organizing when he joined the Latino activist Community Service Organization in 1952, eventually becoming national director; resigned in 1962 to focus on organizing farm workers
∗ Founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which evolved into the United Farm Workers union in 1966; organized a strike against grape growers in Delano, California, beginning in 1965; led 340-mile march in 1966 from Delano to the state capitol in Sacramento, launching the consumer boycott of Delano grapes into national consciousness; boycott ended in 1970 when 26 grape growers signed contracts with the UFW
∗ Battled the Teamsters union in bloody four-year struggle among Salinas Valley growers, ending in a jurisdictional agreement in 1973
∗ Borrowed nonviolent tactics from the Civil Rights movement including marches, picketing, boycotts and “spiritual” fasts, earning national recognition and support from Robert Kennedy, Walter Mondale and Jesse Jackson, among other national leaders
∗ Conducted a 25-day hunger strike in 1968 to protest the increasing advocacy of violence among union members
∗ Held a 24-day water-only hunger strike at the Santa Rita Center on East Hadley Street in South Phoenix during 1972 to protest a new state law that prohibited farm workers from striking or boycotting during harvest seasons; Gov. Jack Williams signed the bill into law after refusing to meet with Chavez
∗ Held a 36-day fast in 1988 to protest grape growers’ refusal to limit the use of pesticides that harmed farm workers’ health; lost 30 pounds during the hunger strike before being convinced by associates to stop; then “passed” the fast on to various celebrities including Jesse Jackson, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover, Edward James Olmos, Carly Simon and Whoopi Goldberg, among others
∗ Died peacefully in his sleep on April 23, 1993 in San Luis near Yuma, while testifying in a court case on behalf of farm workers; buried at La Paz, the UFW’s California headquarters in Keene.
∗ Credited with bringing national attention to – and improving – farm workers’ conditions and wages in California, Arizona, Texas and Florida
∗ Awarded posthumously the Medal of Freedom in 1994 from President Clinton, who said, “The farm workers who labored in the fields and yearned for respect and self-sufficiency pinned their hopes on this remarkable man who, with faith and discipline, soft spoken humility and amazing inner strength, led a very courageous life”
∗ Honored with a U.S. Postal Service stamp in 2003; inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2006
∗ Inspired the naming of the town of Cesar Chavez in Texas; inspired the 2014 film Cesar Chavez; mentioned in songs by Stevie Wonder (“Black Man”) and Tom Morello (“Union Song”); inspired the annual Cesar Chavez Holiday Parade in San Francisco; inspired the naming of Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton, California, and Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen, among many other honors