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2013 -- H 5518 | |
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LC01097 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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HONORING CÉSAR ESTRADA CHÁVEZ (1927-1993) | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, O'Brien, Cimini, and Almeida | |
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Date Introduced: February 14, 2013 | |
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Referred To: House read and passed | |
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WHEREAS, César Chávez, born in Yuma, Arizona, on March 31, 1927, grew up in a |
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series of migrant labor camps in Arizona and California. After serving in the Navy from 1944 to |
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1945, he returned to migrant farm work; and |
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WHEREAS, While working with the Community Service Organization (CSO) in San |
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Jose, California, César Chávez led voter registration drives, helped Chicanos with immigration |
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problems, and organized CSO chapters in other cities. In 1962, when the CSO refused to create a |
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farm workers' union, he resigned; and |
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WHEREAS, During that same year, Chávez began to organize the National Farm |
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Workers' Association and, by 1965, 1,700 families enrolled. Always practicing non-violent |
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tactics borrowed from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Chávez invited arrest or fasted to call |
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attention to his struggle with the growers; and |
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WHEREAS, In September of 1965, Chávez’ union joined migrant Filipino grape pickers |
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on a strike against the growers that lasted into the 1970s. Under his leadership, the union |
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organized boycotts of non-union farm products; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1966, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial |
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Organizations (AFL-CIO) chartered the United Farm Workers' Organizing Committee with |
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Chávez as president; and |
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WHEREAS, Chávez became a contemporary American hero and is an inspiration to all |
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who value the basic American ideals of justice, equality, and freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, Chávez advocated for non-violent social reform in protecting the |
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environment and the rights of the consumers. Ultimately, he forged an extraordinary and diverse |
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national coalition of students, middle-class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, women, |
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and minorities, including Latinos, Filipinos, Jews, Native Americans, African Americans, and |
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gays and lesbians; now, therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
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Providence Plantations hereby honors the legacy of this extraordinary and courageous American |
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labor leader who forever changed the lives of farm workers in America; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives annually celebrates March 31st as |
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"César Chávez Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy |
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and Progreso Latino. |
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LC01097 | |
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