SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown today issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, March 31, 2011 as “César Chávez Day” in the State of California.
The text of the proclamation is below:
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
César Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, near his family farm in Yuma, Arizona. While still young, his family lost their farm in the Depression and they became farm workers who migrated throughout the Southwest. During these formative years, Chávez was exposed to the dismal working conditions that migrant workers were forced to endure.
In 1962, after working for many years as a community organizer, he founded an organization which later became the United Farm Workers of America. As leader of the UFW, Chávez tirelessly organized agricultural field workers to protest and demand improvements in their working and living conditions. His motto of “Sí se puede” or “Yes, we can,” has inspired labor movements across a spectrum of industries and continues to be a clarion call in the broader struggle for social justice in the workplace.
César Chávez and the UFW worked hard to pass the landmark California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which I signed into law in 1975. The Act was the first in the Nation to give farm workers the right to seek union representation and bargain collectively within the framework of state law.
Californians of every generation and background continue to be inspired by the leadership of César Chávez. On March 31, the 84th anniversary of his birth, I ask all Californians to join me in continuing to build on his dream of a world where workers are treated with dignity and respect.
NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2011, as “César Chávez Day.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 30th day of March 2011.
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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
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DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State