2015 -- S 0776

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LC002344

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING CÉSAR ESTRADA CHÁVEZ (1927-1993)

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Paiva Weed, Ciccone, Felag, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 31, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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

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

1945, he returned to migrant farm work; and

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

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

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

farm workers' union, he resigned; and

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

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

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

attention to his struggle with the growers; and

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

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

organized boycotts of non-union farm products; and

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

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

Chávez as president; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

gays and lesbians; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby honors the legacy of this extraordinary and courageous American labor leader who forever

changed the lives of farm workers in America; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate annually celebrates March 31st as "César Chávez Day" in

the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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

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

and Progreso Latino.

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