U.S.
Senator Member: Finance, Agriculture, Energy, Ethics and Aging Committees |
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For Immediate
Release Monday , March 31, 2008 |
CONTACT:Stephanie Valencia – 202-494-8790 |
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Senator Salazar Honors Civil Rights Leader César Estrada Chávez
WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator Ken Salazar released the following statement in recognition of Cesár Chávez’ life and legacy, as today would have been the great civil rights leader’s eighty-first birthday. Cesar Chávez committed
his life to organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and fair working
conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing and the outlawing of child
labor. Since César Chávez’s death, schools, parks, streets,
libraries, awards, scholarships and more have been named in his honor.
Additionally, eight U.S. states, including Colorado, Arizona, California,
Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin and many communities
across the country recognize César Chávez Day, a holiday
to honor his legacy. In March 2007, Senator Salazar introduced a resolution to honor the accomplishments and legacy of César Chávez. Senator Salazar has also introduced the César Estrada Chávez Study Act (S.327) which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the life of César Chávez. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed that bill on January 30, 2008, and Senator Salazar continues to work for passage by the full Senate. Background: Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927 on a small farm in Yuma, Arizona. At age 10, Chavez and his family became migrant farm workers, laboring in fields across the Southwest, enduring the hardships and injustices of farm worker life. In 1952, Chavez left the fields and became a community activist working for civil rights and social justice. In 1962, he founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America, working for the rights and protections of farm workers. Chavez died on April 22, 1993.
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