Farmworker Justice Applauds Establishment of New César E. Chávez National Monument

Farmworker Justice, a national advocacy organization for the rights of farmworkers, today praised President Obama’s dedication of a new monument to civil rights and labor leader César E. Chávez in Keene, California.

Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice, made the following statement:

“The death of César Chávez in 1993 left a void in the hearts of thousands of Americans. It’s only fitting that we honor his legacy with the dedication of this national monument. Mr. Chávez brought unprecedented hope and unity to the unrepresented, mostly immigrant workers in this nation’s bountiful agricultural sector. His progressive ideals, organizing skills and activism empowered farmworkers to win significant improvements in their wages and working conditions and in workers’ rights. His optimism inspired tens of thousands of farmworkers to truly believe in his slogan, ‘Si, se puede,’ or “Yes, we can.”

The Chávez monument on the National Register of Historic Places will educate future generations about the important struggles to achieve justice for all Americans and serve as a symbol of hope to those who dream of one day creating a better life for themselves in the United States of America.

For all the progress Mr. Chávez helped create, the monument is also a reminder of the many challenges for farmworkers which lie ahead. While the United Farm Workers, co-founded by Mr. Chávez and Dolores Huerta, helped usher in a new era for farmworkers’ rights, farmworkers remain one of the most vulnerable and marginalized workforces in the nation. The men and women working to put food on America’s tables deserve the best from our country and we will continue to fight for their rights.”