Cesar Chavez Day is a U.S. federal commemorative holiday, proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014.[1] The holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year.
| Cesar Chavez Day | |
|---|---|
 Poster commemorating Cesar Chavez Day | |
| Observed by | (1) A formal holiday in US states of Arizona, California, Washington, and Utah (2) An optional holiday in US states of Colorado and Texas, state offices open with limited staffing (3) A festival day in Nebraska and Nevada (4) A commemorative proclamation holiday by the United States |
| Date | March 31 |
| Next time | March 31, 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
Observances by state
edit| State | Observance |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Observed by the cities of Phoenix[2] and Tucson[3] |
| California | March 31,[4] moved to the following Monday when March 31 falls on a Sunday,[5] is designated as the state holiday "Cesar Chavez Day". Public schools may, but are not required to, close in observance.[6] |
| Colorado | Declared as an optional holiday on March 31[7] |
| Minnesota | The thirty-first day of March, recognized as Cesar Chavez Day[8] |
| Texas | Declared as an optional holiday on March 31[7] |
| Utah | State offices and school is optional[9] |
| Washington | The thirty-first day of March, recognized as Cesar Chavez Day |
Origins
edit
Cesar Chavez (born Cesar Estrada Chavez, locally [ˈsesaɾ esˈtɾaða ˈtʃaβes]; March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).[10]
It is commemorated to promote service to the community in honor of Cesar Chavez's life and work. Some state government offices, community colleges, libraries, and public schools are closed. Texas also recognizes the day, and it is an optional holiday in Arizona (official holiday in the cities of Phoenix and Tucson) and Colorado. Americans are urged to "regard this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez's enduring legacy."[11] In addition, there are celebrations in his honor in Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, and New Mexico and has been observed in California since 1995, in Texas since 2000 and in Colorado since 2001 as state holidays (optional in Texas and Colorado).[12]
History
editProclamations
editOn March 31, 2008, while a senator, Barack Obama endorsed the idea of creating a national holiday in Chavez's honor: "Chavez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on. As farm workers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union."[13] Grassroots organizations continued to urge creation of such a national holiday; and, on March 30, 2011, Obama as president reiterated his support: "Cesar Chavez's legacy provides lessons from which all Americans can learn."[14]
The City of Sacramento has recognized Cesar Chavez's birthday as a City Holiday since 1993 [15]
Cesar Chavez Day has been celebrated in Reno, Nevada, since 2003. A state law passed in 2009 (AB 301) requires Nevada's governor to annually issue a proclamation declaring March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.
On March 28, 2014, President Obama used his authority to proclaim each March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.[16]
National holiday movement
edit_(cropped).jpg)
Cesar Chavez Day as a national holiday has gained support from musician Carlos Santana, civil rights and labor leaders.[17] Rallies were held in 2006 in Los Angeles with the goal of raising awareness beyond California. Currently, a major obstacle to this day becoming a national holiday is caused by a rule in Congress that prevents bills with national holiday provisions from being introduced. The holiday proposal would need to overcome that obstacle before legislation can be introduced.[18]
Reception
editThe day highlights the legacy of Cesar Chavez, and focuses on Chicano or Mexican Americans efforts in the labor movement.[19] Events surrounding the holiday largely ignore the actions of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, and its Filipino American membership and leadership, who began the Delano grape strike which propelled Cesar Chavez to international notoriety.[20] Due to this Filipino Americans have been critical of the day's focus, which excludes acknowledgement of their history.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Presidential Proclamation – Cesar Chavez Day". whitehouse.gov. March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2016 – via National Archives.
- ^ "Cesar Chavez Day (Observed) (City Offices Closed)".
- ^ "City Holidays". www.tucsonaz.gov. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(a)(7), eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.
- ^ Cal. Gov. Code § 6701(a), eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.
- ^ Cal. Educ. Code § 37220.5, eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cesar Chavez Day in the United States". www.timeanddate.com.
- ^ Codified at MN statute 10.555.
- ^ Wilson, Jenny (March 31, 2011). "A Not-Quite National Holiday: Eight States Celebrate Cesar Chavez Day". Time.
- ^ "Cesar Chavez". Points of Light. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ^ "Presidential Proclamation—Cesar Chavez Day". whitehouse.gov. March 30, 2011 – via National Archives.
- ^ Cesar Chavez Day in United States
- ^ Barack Obama calls for National Holiday for Cesar E. Chavez
- ^ "Presidential Proclamation—Cesar Chavez Day", whitehouse.gov, March 30, 2011 – via National Archives
- ^ url=http://records.cityofsacramento.org/ViewDoc.aspx?ID=s6tFBnt4W IfryOBaWQPWjUlw2fqOq//
- ^ "Presidential Proclamation – Cesar Chavez Day, 2014", whitehouse.gov, March 28, 2014 – via National Archives
- ^ "Cesar E. Chavez National Holiday". www.cesarchavezholiday.org.
- ^ Archive, ABC7. "Cesar Chavez supporters rally for a national holiday | ABC7 Los Angeles Archive | abc7.com". ABC7 Los Angeles.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Foner, Nancy; Fredrickson, George M. (April 22, 2004). Not Just Black and White: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Immgiration, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States. Russell Sage Foundation. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-61044-211-4.
Tatum, Charles M. (September 5, 2017). Chicano Popular Culture, Second Edition: Que Hable El Pueblo. University of Arizona Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-8165-3652-8.
Meier, Matt S.; Gutiérrez, Margo; Gutierrez, Margo (2003). The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-313-31643-2.
"Cesar Chavez Changed The Way Our Country Treats Immigrant Farm Workers But There's Still A Lot Of Work To Be Done". Mitu. June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
Clark, Christine (March 21, 2012). "UC San Diego Salutes Cesar Chavez Day with Month of Activities in April". University of California, San Diego. Retrieved February 27, 2020. - ^ Rojas, Leslie Berestein (April 1, 2011). "The forgotten history of the Filipino laborers who worked with Cesar Chavez". KPCC. Pasadena. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
Tabafunda, James (November 22, 2013). "Filipino American organizer's legacy ignored, but not by all". Northwest Asian Weekly. Seattle. Retrieved February 27, 2020. - ^ Muriera, Ron P.; Orpilla, Mel (March 28, 2014). "FANHS Speaks Out on the New Film CESAR CHAVEZ". Filipino American National Historical Society. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
Oh, Hansook (March 27, 2012). "Remembering the Delano Manongs: The Filipinos behind Chavez and Huerta". The Sundial. California State University, Northridge. Retrieved February 27, 2020.