2012 -- H 7623

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LC01732

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING CÉSAR ESTRADA CHÁVEZ (1927-1993)

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Silva, Valencia, and Cimini

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

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     WHEREAS, César Chávez, born in Yuma, Arizona, on March 31, 1927, grew up in a

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series of migrant labor camps in Arizona and California. After serving in the Navy from 1944 to

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1945, he returned to migrant farm work; and

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     WHEREAS, While working with the Community Service Organization (CSO) in San

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Jose, California, César Chávez led voter registration drives, helped Chicanos with immigration

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problems, and organized CSO chapters in other cities. In 1962, when the CSO refused to create a

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farm workers' union, he resigned; and

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     WHEREAS, During that same year, Chávez began to organize the National Farm

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Workers' Association and, by 1965, 1,700 families enrolled. Always practicing non-violent

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tactics borrowed from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Chávez invited arrest or fasted to call

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attention to his struggle with the growers; and

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     WHEREAS, In September 1965 Chávez’ union joined migrant Filipino grape pickers on

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a strike against the growers that lasted into the 1970s. Under his leadership, the union organized

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boycotts of non-union farm products; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1966, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial

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Organizations (AFL-CIO) chartered the United Farm Workers' Organizing Committee with

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Chávez as president; and

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     WHEREAS, Chávez became a contemporary American hero and is an inspiration to all

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who value the basic American ideals of justice, equality, and freedom; and

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     WHEREAS, Chávez advocated for non-violent social reform in protecting the

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environment and the rights of the consumers. Ultimately, he forged an extraordinary and diverse

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national coalition of students, middle-class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, women,

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and minorities, including Latinos, Filipinos, Jews, Native Americans, African Americans, and

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gays and lesbians; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby honors the legacy of this extraordinary and courageous American

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labor leader who forever changed the lives of farm workers in America; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives proclaims that March 31st will be

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celebrated as "César Chávez Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy

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and Progreso Latino.

     

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LC01732

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H7623