Cesar Chavez
by Rene Castro - 6th Period
Brief Background
Cesar Chavez was a Chicano farm worker, civil rights activist, and labor union leader. He fought to improve wages, working conditions, and overall way of life for migrant farm workers. Chavez organized a number of fasts, produce boycotts, and created labor unions. Chavez's believed in Gandhi's theory of nonviolent protest which influenced many of his demonstrations.
Boycotts
Chavez organized grape and lettuce boycotts that received a lot attention and cost the region's produce growers millions of dollars.
Labor Unions
The United Farm Workers union merged the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) led by César Chávez.
Fasting
One of the ways he protested was by enduring fasts that lasted up to 35 days. In this image he is fasting with famous senator, Bobby Kennedy
Mini Bio: Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez and Civil Disobedience
Cesar Chavez represents the ideas found in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" through his determination to change the labor system in Delano, California. He felt that the system was unjust and did not give the worker things such as fair pay, job security, and better working conditions. His opinion on the labor system connects well with Thoreau's disgust towards slavery.