Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez (born César Estrada Chávez, locally: [ˈsesaɾ esˈtɾaða ˈtʃaβes]; March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).

A Mexican American, Chavez became the best known Latino American civil rights activist, and was strongly promoted by the American labor movement, which was eager to enroll Hispanic members. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. However, by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000.

During his lifetime, Colegio Cesar Chavez was one of the few institutions named in his honor, but after his death he became a major historical icon for the Latino community, with many schools, streets, and parks being named after him. He has since become an icon for organized labor and leftist politics, symbolizing support for workers and for Hispanic empowerment based on grass roots organizing. He is also famous for popularizing the slogan "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, one can" or, roughly, "Yes, it can be done"), which was adopted as the 2008 campaign slogan of Barack Obama. His supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. Although the UFW faltered after a few years, after Chavez died in 1993 he became an iconic "folk saint" in the pantheon of Mexican Americans. His birthday, March 31, has become Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday in California, Colorado, and Texas.

Cesar Chavez (disambiguation)

César Chávez (1927–1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist.

Places

People

César Chávez (boxer)

César Chávez (born August 15, 1988 in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico) is a Mexican professional boxer in the Welterweight division.

Professional career

In April 2011, Chávez beat the veteran Cesar Martinez, this bout was held at the Dubay Discothèque in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico.

References

External links

Cesar Chavez Day

Cesar Chavez Day is a national commemorative holiday in the U.S. It is aimed at celebrating the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez, on March 31.

Observances by state

Origins

'Cesar Chavez (born César Estrada Chávez, locally: [ˈsesaɾ esˈtɾaða ˈtʃaβes]; March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).

The day is commemorated to promote service to the community in honor of Cesar Chavez's life and work. Some state government offices, community colleges, libraries, and public schools are closed. Texas also recognizes the day, and it is an optional holiday in Arizona (official holiday in the city of Phoenix, Arizona) and Colorado. Although it is not a federal holiday, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day in the United States, with Americans being urged to "observe this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez's enduring legacy." In addition, there are celebrations in his honor in Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, and New Mexico and has been observed in California since 1995, in Texas since 2000 and in Colorado since 2003 as state holidays (optional in Texas and Colorado).

Cesar Chavez (politician)

Cesar Chavez, who changed his name from Scott Fistler, is a politician from Arizona known for his multiple campaigns for a congressional seat, most recently as a representative of Arizona's 7th congressional district.

Chavez officially changed political parties from Republican to Democrat on April 28, 2014.

2012 Campaign

In 2012, Chavez mounted a campaign as a Republican write-in candidate against Democrat Ed Pastor for the District 7 seat. Incumbent Pastor was challenged by Democrat Rebecca Witt in the August 2012 primary for the 7th Congressional District, but Pastor "easily bested" Witt. Chavez ran as the only Republican candidate.

In that election, Pastor was elected to a 12th term in congress, "easily" winning the election. With Chavez mounting the write-in campaign, he was not listed as the official Republican in election result announcements.

2013 Campaign

In 2013, Chavez ran for the Phoenix City Council District 4 seat. "Longtime" councilman Tom Simplot announced that he would not seek reelection for the 2013 election, which resulted in more candidates running for one City Council seat than any other district in the United States that election. Candidates included Chavez, then running under Scott Fistler; Jeffrey Brown; Dan Carroll; Austin Head; Justin Johnson, son of former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson; David Lujan; and Laura Pastor, daughter of Ed Pastor.

César Chávez (film)

César Chávez is a 2014 American biopic film produced and directed by Diego Luna about the life of American labor leader César Chávez, who cofounded the United Farm Workers. The film stars Michael Peña as Chávez. John Malkovich co-stars as the owner of a large industrial grape farm who leads the opposition to Chávez's organizing efforts. It premiered in the Berlinale Special Galas section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

Plot

The film follows Chávez's efforts to organize 50,000 farm workers in California, some of whom were braceros—temporary workers from Mexico permitted to live and work in the United States in agriculture, and required to return to Mexico if they stopped working. Working conditions are very poor for the braceros, who also suffer from racism and brutality at the hands of the employers and local Californians. To help the workers, César Chávez (Michael Peña) forms a labor union known as the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chávez's efforts opposed, sometimes violently, by the owners of the large industrial farms where the braceros work. The film touches on several major nonviolent campaigns by the UFW: the Delano grape strike, the Salad Bowl strike, and the 1975 Modesto march.