WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest ranking Latino in Congress, today led his Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution to commemorate the life and legacy of civil rights leader and labor champion César Estrada Chávez.

“César Chávez was a true American hero who helped change the course of our nation’s history,” said Sen. Menendez. “We must carry forward Chávez’s call for universal dignity and respect, and recommit ourselves to following his unwavering devotion to our community and his guiding principle that we must leave the world a better place than we found it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, farm workers have continued to bravely serve as essential workers and have kept food on America’s tables – and Chávez’s commitment to protecting the fundamental rights of farm workers is more relevant than ever. I join millions of Latinos across New Jersey and the country in celebrating César Chávez, an American hero who showed us our voices can change the course of history and helped pave our nation’s way towards justice for all.”

 César Estrada Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, in Arizona to poor migrant farm workers. In 1962, Chávez co-founded the first successful farm workers union in the United States – the United Farm Workers (UFW) – to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and the outlawing of child labor. Following the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Chávez committed to nonviolent protest to call attention to the terrible working and living conditions of American farm workers. He inspired hope in these workers through his great rallying catchphrase, "Sí Se Puede." César Chávez was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Prize during his lifetime and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 1994.

The resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). A similar resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29).

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

 

 

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