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Cesar Chavez
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Born: March 31, 1927
Died: April 23, 1993
Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. During the 20th century he was a leading voice for migrant farm workers (people who move from place to place in order to find work). His tireless leadership focused national attention on these laborers' terrible working conditions, which eventually led to improvements.
Cesar Chavez Gains Grounds for Farmers
Cesar Chavez is best known for his efforts to gain better working conditions for the thousands of workers who labored on farms for low wages and under severe conditions. Chavez and his United Farm Workers union battled California grape growers by holding nonviolent protests. Chavez got the idea for nonviolent actions from Martin Luther King Jr., who was a leader in the struggle for civil rights for African Americans. Chavez also went on hunger strikes, protesting by refusing to eat for long periods of time. In 1968 he fasted for 25 days in support of the UFW (United Farm Workers) commitment to non-violence. He was inspired to fast by M.K. Gandhi of India.
Because of Chavez's peaceful tactics and public support for the union, he and the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee were able to negotiate contracts for higher wages and better treatment of agricultural workers with California grape producers.
Like his protests, Cesar Chavez died peacefully. In 1993, he died in his sleep in San Luis, Arizona, where he had gone to testify against vegetable growers. An estimated 50,000 mourners attended his funeral service. In recognition of Chavez's importance as a leader of the Mexican American community and a champion of social justice, President Bill Clinton awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to his widow, Helen Chavez, in 1994.
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS TAKEN FROM www.americaslibrary.com
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