By: Barrientos S.R. No. 626
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
1-3 honor Cesar Chavez, one of those exceptional individuals who has
1-4 made this world a better place in which to live, work, and raise a
1-5 family; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez, who died on April 23, 1993, was a
1-7 person whose legacy will continue to live for generations of
1-8 Texans; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The founder and leader of the first successful farm
1-10 workers union in the United States, Mr. Chavez was born near Yuma,
1-11 Arizona, on March 31, 1927, to a farming family that lost its land
1-12 during the Great Depression; as a small child, he experienced the
1-13 harsh working conditions and crushing despair that characterize the
1-14 lives of many of this country's migrant workers; and
1-15 WHEREAS, At the tender age of 10, Mr. Chavez began traveling
1-16 with his family from farm to farm throughout the Southwest and
1-17 left school after completing the eighth grade so he could join his
1-18 parents and siblings in the harvesting of row crops, grapes, and
1-19 tree fruits; and
1-20 WHEREAS, During World War II, this patriotic American
1-21 answered his nation's call to arms and served with honor and
1-22 distinction as a member of the United States Navy; on his return
1-23 to civilian life, he met Helen Fabela while working in the
2-1 vineyards of Delano, California, and the couple soon married and
2-2 settled in San Jose; and
2-3 WHEREAS, While working in the nearby apricot orchards,
2-4 Mr. Chavez became involved with the Community Service Organization,
2-5 began coordinating voter registration drives in the Mexican-American
2-6 community, and forming new chapters of the organization throughout
2-7 the states of California and Arizona; and
2-8 WHEREAS, He served as the group's national director during
2-9 the late 1950s and early 1960s, leaving the position in 1962 to
2-10 found the National Farm Workers Association, an organization that
2-11 soon grew to include more than 1,000 member families; in 1965,
2-12 the association joined with the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers
2-13 Organizing Committee in a strike against Delano grape growers that
2-14 was the first of many peaceful attempts to secure improved working
2-15 conditions for farm laborers; and
2-16 WHEREAS, One year later, the two groups merged to form the
2-17 United Farm Workers of America (UFW), and the able leadership of
2-18 Mr. Chavez sustained the organization through a five-year strike
2-19 and boycott that rallied the support of labor unions, churches, and
2-20 student, minority, and consumer groups throughout the country; and
2-21 WHEREAS, By 1970, the boycott had forced most table grape
2-22 producers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers, an
2-23 affiliate of the AFL-CIO, but in 1973, most growers attempted to
2-24 undermine the power of the organization by signing new contracts
2-25 with the teamsters union, sparking the largest farm labor strike
3-1 in the history of the United States; and
3-2 WHEREAS, With nearly 17 million Americans honoring the
3-3 United Farm Worker-led boycott of California grapes, lettuce,
3-4 and Gallo wines, California agricultural producers were forced to
3-5 support the state's historic 1975 collective bargaining law that
3-6 extended labor union protection to farm workers; and
3-7 WHEREAS, His dedicated efforts were part of a national quest
3-8 for Mexican-American equality and justice that became known as
3-9 "La Causa," and effects from that movement are still being felt
3-10 today; many of the idealistic young people who joined his movement
3-11 nearly three decades ago have become prominent and respected leaders
3-12 in our state, including Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Southwest Voter
3-13 Education Project founder Willy Velasquez, and political columnist
3-14 Carlos Guerra; and
3-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez's inspired leadership, unwavering
3-16 commitment, and courageous personal sacrifices have helped American
3-17 farm workers earn decent wages, medical benefits, and protection
3-18 from dangerous pesticides; and
3-19 WHEREAS, In recognition for his ability to find solutions to
3-20 our country's most pressing social and economic problems through
3-21 nonviolent means, Mr. Chavez was posthumously awarded the nation's
3-22 highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on
3-23 August 8, 1994; and
3-24 WHEREAS, Now, as we commemorate the 68th anniversary of his
3-25 birth, it is indeed an appropriate time to reflect on the legacy
4-1 of this true American hero and to look forward to a future in which
4-2 agricultural workers are given the recognition and support they
4-3 deserve for performing one of our society's most important roles;
4-4 now, therefore, be it
4-5 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
4-6 74th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life and work of
4-7 Cesar Chavez; and, be it further
4-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
4-9 prepared for the family of Mr. Chavez as an expression of the
4-10 esteem and high regard of the Texas Senate.
4-11 ______________________________________
4-12 President of the Senate
4-13 I hereby certify that the above
4-14 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-15 on April 4, 1995.
4-16 ______________________________________
4-17 Secretary of the Senate
4-18 ______________________________________
4-19 Member, Texas Senate