Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest ranking Latino in Congress, and U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.-29) today introduced a bicameral resolution honoring the legacy of the renowned civil rights and labor leader, César E. Chávez.
“I am honored to commemorate the lasting legacy of César Chávez’s contributions to the history of America as one of our nation’s most important civil rights and labor leaders,” said Senator Menendez. “Today, I join New Jerseyans and millions across the country in not only celebrating César Chávez Day, but in reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the principles of universal dignity, respect, and social justice that he fought for throughout his life.”
“I rise today to honor the life and legacy of labor and civil rights leader César E. Chávez,” said Congressman Cárdenas during a speech on the House floor. “Born in Yuma, Arizona, César worked with his family in the fields of America’s Southwest. After serving in the U.S. Navy, César began organizing for the human dignity and respect of all farmworkers — farmworkers like my father and grandfather, who did backbreaking work in the fields of California. César’s powerful message of hope and opportunity motivated a generation to stand up and demand the respect and dignity their work deserves. He taught us the importance of non-violent activism to fight for fair wages and fair treatment that helped put the American Dream within reach for hardworking immigrant families. But his legacy extends beyond agriculture. He spent his life making sure our nation lived up to its core values of freedom, justice and equality for all. His timeless vision of hope for a better world continues to inspire us every single day. Today, on what would have been his 95th birthday, let us reflect on César’s life’s work and carry forward the legacy he set forth. Sí, se puede. Yes, We Can.”
César E. 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 Senate resolution is co-sponsored by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
The House resolution is co-sponsored by Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-31), Karen Bass (D-Calif.-37), Nanette Barragan(D-Calif.-44), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-27), David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas-28), Danny Davis (D-Ill.-07), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.-18), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.-07), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.-09), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.-04), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-10), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.-32), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C. At-Large), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.-01), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-20), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-52), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.-40), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-36), Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.-38), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.-09), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-51), Filemon Vega (D-Texas-34), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.-03), James McGovern (D-Mass.-02), and Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.-47).
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