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Title:
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Proclamation of the City Council proclaiming March 31, 2006 as Cesar Chavez Day.
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P R O C L A M A T I O N
CESAR CHAVEZ DAY OF SERVICE AND LEARNING
March 31, 2006
WHEREAS, in August 2000, the California State Legislature and then-Governor Pete Wilson established March 31
st
of each
year as “Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning,” which engages thousands of students annually from kindergarten through 12
th
grade in service projects to honor the life and work of Cesar Chavez, founder of the National Farm Workers Association and the
United Farm Workers AFL-CIO, the first successful farm workers union in United States history; and
WHEREAS, at the age of 10, Cesar Chavez became a migrant farm worker, and, along with his family and together with
thousands of other displaced families, migrated throughout the Southwest to labor in the fields and vineyards, leaving school in the
eighth grade and eventually serving in the United States Navy in the Western Pacific in the aftermath of World War II; and
WHEREAS, Chavez settled with wife Helen and his family in East San Jose, California in 1948 to work in the surrounding
fields, orchards and vineyards of the region, where, after observing objectionable working conditions for migrant farm workers, he
became a full time community organizer with the Community Service Organization (CSO), organizing voter registration drives,
battling racial and economic discrimination, and organizing CSO chapters across California and Arizona; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, Chavez established the National Farm Workers Association and advocated for nonviolent struggle, often
engaging in multi-day fasts to advocate for safe food products and working conditions for farm workers and their children, and was
supported by such leaders as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, who joined Chavez on the steps of his home in 1968
to celebrate the breaking of a 25-day fast before an audience of 8,000 farm workers and supporters; and
WHEREAS, Chavez continued spreading his message through the United States, Europe and Mexico until his death in 1993 at
the age of 67, and, as a result of his passion and efforts, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Mexico’s
Aguila Azteca Award for his commitment to social justice for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, hereby proclaims
March 31, 2006 as “Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning” in Culver City in commemoration of the life and work of Cesar
Chavez. The Culver City community is encouraged to take this time to learn about Cesar Chavez.
Dated this 27th day of March, 2006.
Albert Vera - Mayor
Gary Silbiger – Vice Mayor Carol A. Gross - Councilmember
Alan Corlin – Councilmember Steven J. Rose - Councilmember