Cesar Chavez’s story teaches our campus to never tolerate unfair treatment and to always strive for equality and inclusion. Chavez teaches everyone that everyone’s voice matters and that no one deserves to be overlooked, especially marginalized communities whose needs are essential. Chavez’s mission to improve working conditions for migrant farmworkers succeeded, but now it depends on the people of today to continue fighting other injustices, because past struggles are also present.
Five Interesting Facts about Cesar Chavez
- Founder of National Farm Workers Association in 1962 which later became known as United Farm Workers organization for farm labor rights.
- Farm labor activist who organized boycotts, hunger strikes, sing-ins, and other non-violent demonstrations.
- The longest fast Cesar Chavez carried out was a 36-day fast with the purpose of stopping the use of harmful pesticides in the fields.
- In 2014, former president Barack Obama proclaimed Cesar Chavez Day a federal commemorative holiday. Since 2016, Cesar Chavez Day has been considered an annual county holiday for Sacramento and a day of recognition for Chavez. Sacramento State University closes its campus each year on March 31 in honor of Cesar Chavez and in recognition of the long fight to improve working conditions.
- On January 18, 1971 Cesar Chavez visited Sacramento State University and delivered a convocation speech. Chavez addressed important issues such as non-violent protests, boycotts, and the United States Defense Department.
Learn more about Cesar Chavez convocation speech at Sacramento State by clicking this link below.
