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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 437
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WHEREAS, Residents of San Antonio are celebrating the |
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renaming of a street in honor of labor and civil rights leader |
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Jaime P. Martinez on March 20, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, A San Antonio native, Jaime Martinez was born in |
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1946 and raised by his grandparents, who were migrant workers |
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from Mexico; after finding employment with a refrigeration |
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company, he joined Local 780 of the International Union of |
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Electrical Workers in 1966 and began advocating for the rights of |
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his fellow workers; during the 1960s, he also honed his |
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organizational skills alongside Cesar Chavez, marching in behalf |
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of farm laborers; he founded the Cesar E. Chavez LULAC Council |
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No. 4626 and continues to serve as its president; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Martinez was elected treasurer for District |
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11 of the International Union of Electrical Workers in 1990, |
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becoming the first Mexican American to serve on the union's |
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executive board; subsequently, he advocated for labor rights and |
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social justice in numerous key roles, serving as first vice |
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president for the Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO and |
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president of the national Labor Council for Latin American |
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Advancement, and he was national LULAC treasurer for four terms; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Mr. Martinez was the national labor |
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coordinator for the historic Latino March on Washington, which |
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was attended by 200,000 people, and he led an international |
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delegation that met with Attorney General Janet Reno requesting |
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an investigation of civil rights violations; he was appointed as |
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one of only 100 delegates to the 2000 International Metalworkers' |
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Federation World Council convention, a historic meeting of |
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representatives from 25 countries; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan has dedicated himself to |
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preserving the legacy of Cesar Chavez in San Antonio; he was the |
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lead organizer and chair of the 10th Annual Cesar E. Chavez March |
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for Justice, which drew 20,000 participants; moreover, he |
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created the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Education Foundation, |
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which has raised thousands of dollars for underprivileged |
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students, and he was instrumental in the naming of a street in |
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honor of Cesar Chavez; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Jaime Martinez has received |
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myriad accolades, including the Ernest Olivares Cultural Award |
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from the Avenida Guadalupe Association and the 2014 Juneteenth |
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San Antonio Frederick Douglass Emancipation Award; his vision |
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and leadership have contributed significantly to the advancement |
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of labor and civil rights, and he is indeed deserving of this |
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latest honor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby commemorate the naming of Jaime P. Martinez |
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Place and extend to Mr. Martinez sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Martinez as an expression of high regard from |
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the Texas Senate. |
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Menéndez |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 25, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |