“We need to continue elevating the realities of our community, especially farmworkers that are the worst paid, working in the worst conditions,” said a Latina legal advocate.
Latino-led and nonprofit organizations are marking the life of the late labor and civil rights champion César Chávez on what would have been his 95th birthday.
Almost six decades ago, Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers’ Association, which later became theafter he drew national attention to the plight of farmworkers, leading to a nationwide boycott of grapes to protest worker conditions and a 340-mile march from Delano, California to to the State Capitol in Sacramento.
TODEC, which has provided free legal and other services to Latino and immigrant families for almost 40 years, sent a team of 12 members ages 14 to 20 to Washington to lobby members of Congress to support farmworker rights and immigration reform. Monserrat Gomes, 20, one of the beneficiaries of the trip, said she will use the opportunity to push for immigration reform.
Susana Almanza, fifth from left, with children holding baskets of lettuce and grapes to symbolize the boycotts and struggles at the ¡Sí Se Puede! César Chávez March & Day of Action! event Saturday., included a one-mile march to honor Chávez’s legacy, live music, guest speakers, artists and small businesses.