A RESOLUTION
No.
WHEREAS, on March 31, 1927, a hero named Cesar Estrada Chavez was born
in Yuma, Arizona, to Librado and Juana Chavez.
WHEREAS, in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Cesar Chavez'
father lost his farm and the family went broke. The family became migrant
workers and joined some 30,000 workers who followed the crops from Arizona into
southern California. They lived in tents and other makeshift housing that often
lacked a bathroom, electricity, or running water. Schooling for Chavez was
irregular and haphazard. He attended some 30 different schools, often
encountered discrimination, and was punished for speaking Spanish;
WHEREAS, after graduation from the eighth grade, Cesar Chavez was
forced to quit school and worked the fields to help support his family. In
1944, at the age of 17, Cesar Chavez joined the Navy and served in World War
II. After he completed his tour of duty, Cesar Chavez returned to California
and married Helen Fabela.
WHEREAS, in 1962, Cesar Chavez along with Dolores Huerta formed the
first farm workers' union in United States history, the National Farm Worker's
Union, the forerunner to the present United Farm Workers (UFW).
WHEREAS, in 1965, Cesar Chavez led a strike of California grapepickers
to demand higher wages, and urged all Americans to boycott table grapes as a
show of support. The strike included a 340-mile march from Delano to Sacramento
in 1966.
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez preached nonviolence to the strikers even as they
were physically abused by many of those opposed to the grape boycott.
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez lived his life dedicated to improving the plight
of farmworkers through struggle, sacrifice, and self-denial.
WHEREAS, on April 23, 1993, Cesar Estrada Chavez died peacefully in his
sleep in San Luis, Arizona.
WHEREAS, in 1990, Mexican President Salinas de Gortari awarded Cesar
Chavez, the "El Aguila Azteca" (the Aztec Eagle), Mexico's highest award
presented to people of Mexican heritage who have made major contributions
outside of Mexico. He also became the second Mexican-American to receive the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States,
which was presented posthumously to his wife, Helen Chavez, and their children
on August 8, 1994, by President William Jefferson Clinton.
WHEREAS, the lifetime accomplishments of Cesar Chavez are worthy of special
recognition by this Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
We hereby recognize March 31 as the anniversary of the birth of Cesar Chavez,
and call upon all citizens to participate in appropriate observances to
remember Cesar Chavez as a symbol of hope and justice to all persons.
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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of
Columbus, Georgia held on the 8th day of April, 2008, and adopted at said
meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting_____________________.
Councilor Anthony voting__________________.
Councilor Baker voting____________________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________________.
Councilor Davis voting____________________.
Councilor Henderson voting________________.
Councilor Hunter voting___________________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________________.
______________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON JIM WETHERINGTON
CLERK MAYOR
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