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American Hero: Cesar E. Chavez |
VIVA
CHAVEZ: Union
leader and labor organizer
Cesar Estrada Chavez’s [1937-1993] birthday is Monday, March 31st.
Chavez
was born near Yuma, Arizona on March
31, 1927. He died April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona. Cesar
Chavez was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights
activist
and the founder,
with
Dolores Huerta,
of
the United Farm Workers [UFW] in 1972.
CHAVEZ’s
parents were
Juana
Estrada Chavez,
Librado
Chavez;
his wife was
Helen
Fabela Chávez (m. 1948-1993),
and
their
children
are
Anna
Chavez Ybarra,
Elizabeth
Chavez Villarino,
Paul
Chavez,
Eloise
Chavez Carrillo,
Linda
Chávez Rodríguez,
Anthony
Chavez,
Fernando
Chavez,
Sylvia
Chavez Delgado.
A
MEXICAN-AMERICAN Chavez
dedicated his
life to organizing the farm workers. As a farm worker, Chavez knew
the plight and the suffering of the farm workers under the growers.
Low wages, no benefits, unsanitary conditions and the dangers of
pesticides to workers’ health.
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August Sallas & Cesar Chavez |
AS A UNION organizer,
Chavez used nonviolent tactics to bring attention to the plight of
the farm workers. His weapons were marches, boycotts, picketing,
strikes and several hunger strikes.
IN
1968, Chavez fasted
for 25 days to promote the principle of nonviolence. In 1970 he went
on a fast of “thanksgiving and hope” to pre-arranged civil
disobedience by farm workers. He also led a successful national
strike and boycott of California lettuce.
IN
1972, Chavez fasted in
response to Arizona's passage of legislation, which prohibited
boycotts and strikes by farm workers. Chavez made famous the slogan
“Si, se puede” [Yes, it can be done]. He is a labor icon and an
American Hero. There are many schools, streets, buildings, and even a
ship named after him. The Post Office in Pilsen is named after Cesar
Chavez and a commemorative U.S. Stamp was issued honoring Chavez.
MAYOR
RAHM EMANUEL signed a
City Proclamation commemorating Monday, March 31, 2014 as “Cesar
E. Chavez Day”
in Chicago, and “encourage all Chicagoans to recognize his
important contributions to workers' rights.”
CESAR
CHAVEZ movie is
opening in theaters on March 28th.
Viva Chavez!

NETWORKING: The Rotary Club of Little Village is inviting Little Village residents and businesses to their networking event. The event, to kick off the Spring, will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at La Michoacana Ice Cream Shop at 3032 S. Cicero, Cicero, Illinois. Attendees are asked to please RSVP to the littlevillagerotary@gmail.com or call Ernest Espinosa 214/907-9759 or visit the Rotary webside at www.littlevillagerotary.org
ADULTS
Passport book
application requirement: Original birth certification, plus the
original of one of the following: Valid Driver’s License, Valid
State or Government Identification, or valid Military Identification.
Two photos 2x2 inches. Photos must be on a white background. Photos
must also be recent, within one month. Minor original birth
certification plus two photos. Photo Service will be provided on
Passport Day.
COST
of U.S. Passport Book:
Adults $110, plus execution fee: $25; Minor $90, plus execution fee:
$25; Adult Passport Card: $30, plus execution fee: $25. Expedited
Service cost: $60, plus execution fee: $25; passport book overnight
delivery, $14.85.
BUSINESS
people are encourage to attend this U.S. Post Office event to learn
how to use the many services of the Post Office.
ALL
FEES: Exact cash or
personal checks, money orders payable to either “Department of
State” or “U.S. Postal”. First come, first serve at the Little
Village Community Council office for passports. Doors
will be open at 9 a.m.
A
CELEBRATION: The
Fraternal Order of St. Francis Wildcats will be celebrating its 76th
Anniversary annual banquet on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the
Lexington House, 7717 West 95th
St., Hickory Hill, IL. Individual tickers are $65 each, which
includes open bar, full-course family meal and entertainment by the
Latin Satin Soul and DJ Larry Villareal & “L” Productions.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION or
banquet tickets contact Al
Martinez 773/896-7733.
CALENDAR
OF EVENT
THURSDAY,
APRIL 3rd—Little
Village Community Council and HOPE is hosting a community meeting at
Blanco Y Negro
Restaurant,
4043 W. 26th
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Topic: Public Housing Project. Invited
residents of Little Village and Ald.
Ricardo Munoz [22nd
Ward].
QUOTE: "Once
social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot UN-educate
the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person
who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid
anymore. We have seen the future and the future is ours."
--Cesar
E. Chavez