04-R 165

2004 -- H 8382

Enacted 03/31/04

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

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CESAR CHAVEZ

Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Almeida, Faria, Benson, and Fox

Date Introduced: March 31, 2004

     WHEREAS, Annually on March 31st, the citizens of the State of Rhode Island celebrate

the bountiful life and noble accomplishments of Cesar Chavez; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927, Cesar Chavez grew up in a

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

1945, he returned to migrant farm work; and

     WHEREAS, While working with the Community Service Organization in San Jose,

California, Cesar Chavez 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, Chavez began to organize the National Farm

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

tactics borrowed from Ghandi, Chavez invited arrest or fasted to call attention to his struggle with

the growers; and

     WHEREAS, In September 1965, Chavez’ 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

Chavez as president; and

     WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez dedicated his life to the betterment of struggling farm workers

and their families. As a tribute to this noble and altruistic man, an annual Rhode Island Cesar

Chavez Scholarship fund has been established. Each year the scholarship will enable a

graduating Latino student to pursue their dreams of higher education; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby celebrates Cesar Chavez Day on March 31st. We urge all Rhode

Island citizens to observe this day in remembrance of the many accomplishments made by Cesar

Chavez on behalf of our nation's farm workers and their families; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Governor’s Advisory

Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

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LC03104

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