Parade today to celebrate Cesar Chavez

[Judi Lynn]

April 3, 2004, 12:39AM

Parade today to celebrate Cesar Chavez
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle News Services

The Tejano Association of Historical Preservation will have its annual Cesar Chavez Hispanic Pride Parade beginning at 9 a.m. today.

The parade honors all Hispanic leaders, including Chavez, who was a voice for farm workers in national struggles for fair wages and better working conditions.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2484149

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Article Published: Friday, April 02, 2004 - 8:36:50 PM PST

Youths learn of Chavez's legacy
Relatives of pioneer farm labor leader speak in Santa Fe Springs

By Ben Baeder , Staff Writer

SANTA FE SPRINGS -- When Ruben Fabela and his friend Cesar Chavez cut their hands picking prickly cotton boles in Central California during the 1960s, they worked literally for pennies a day.

"We didn't really have role models back then,' said Fabela, who eventually became labor leader Cesar Chavez's brother- in-law.

On Friday, he and other Chavez family members spoke to 300 students and public officials at Santa Fe Springs' fourth annual Cesar Chavez luncheon at the Clarke Estate.

Cesar Luis Chavez, Chavez's grandson, gave the main speech, telling the crowd about Chavez's struggles to convince downtrodden farmworkers to band together for better pay and safer working conditions.
(snip/...)

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2059584,00.html

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Leader of labor
Apr 1 2004 12:00AM By

By DAVE BROOKS

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN



Cesar Chavez's legacy thrives on the Central Coast

Few people loom as large over Watsonville's political establishment as labor leader Cesar Chavez. Eleven years after his death, he remains a fixture in modern-day inspiration and controversy.

To the world, Chavez is one of the best-known civil rights leaders of the 20th century, heralded among the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi. His movement to unionize field laborers under the United Farm Workers earned him international attention as a non-violent advocate for the marginalized.

In Watsonville, he's more than just a historical figure; he's many people's catalyst for awareness. Politicians from State Assembly member Simon Salinas to Watsonville City Council member Manuel Bersamin attribute their political involvement to seeing first-hand Chavez's attempt to organize Watsonville lettuce workers.
(snip/...)

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Cesar Chavez Day: Remembering a legend
Day is spent remembering late farm labor activist's sacrifices, achievements

By Nelsy Rodriguez
The Desert Sun
April 1, 2004


Hotencia Alvarez was a farm worker. She picked grapes.

Now she tells her son, Wilfredo, who Cesar Chavez was, because after 77 years, every grape still counts.

"… I tell him he was a farm worker like us," Alvarez said in Spanish. "I began to tell him before we didn’t have bathrooms, we didn’t make money …."

In the very valley where farm workers were scorned for striking, the man responsible for the nationwide grape boycott was remembered on Wednesday for the sacrifice and determination of his quest.
(snip/...)
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2004/features/20040401004700.shtml

[aneerkoinos]

1. Where's Kerry? n/t

[tkmorris]

2. That's a good question

I am sure he's off enjoying a tall glass of "avoid controversy" somewhere.

[Judi Lynn]

3. I've got that covered!

He issued a statement, even.

Apparently the media still won't see Cesar Chavez as important as many people do, so we weren't told about it.

Statement from Kerry on Cesar Chavez Day


March 29, 2004

For Immediate Release
Sacramento, CA –

Today, John Kerry visited the 4th Annual Cesar Chavez Youth Forum in Sacramento to talk with a group of children working on a service project commemorating Cesar Chavez Day. Kerry met with children and read an excerpt from Kathleen Krull’s “Harvesting Hope,” a children’s book that details the story of Cesar Chavez’s 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California. The holiday is celebrated in seven states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas and Utah – to honor Chavez’ life. In California, workers and children dedicate the day-off to community service.

Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) which represents thousands of farm workers in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Washington and Oregon. Kerry was endorsed by the UFW on February 1, 2004.
Kerry issued the following statement on today’s holiday:

“Cesar Chavez once told us that ‘we cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community.’

“Today, America’s Latino communities are dotted with Cesar Chavez boulevards – a tribute to a man whose fight for justice reached so many neighborhoods and touched so many hearts.

“Born into poverty, Cesar Chavez served in the United States Navy in World War II, and rose to become one of our greatest advocates of nonviolent change. (snip/...)

http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0329.html

[aneerkoinos]

4. Great!

An apology for filthy lies against certain other Chavez and real commitment to democracy would be even greater...

[0007]

5. Thank you JudiLyn -

Cesar Chavez is what humanity for mankind is all about.

In contrast the big leader on Wall Street is the man that has the most of everything.

There is another Chavez that fights for the down trroden and folks with no hope, while the wealthy and greedy howl like insane wolfs waiting for this man, Chavez, to leave office by a heavy hand.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Contrast is the right word, isn't it?

There IS no comparison between a man of his caliber, committment, and sacrifice, and a slimey, squishy soft, anal money grubber.

[realdeal22k]

7. Recovering from surgery and taking narcotics for pain

At home I believe.