US Agriculture Department Inducts Cesar Chavez into ‘Hall of Heroes’

*I heard César Chávez’s name invoked so many times this past week, so many calls for boycotting NBC and Saturday Night Live “like César would have.” The timing of Trumps SNL appearcance with the USDA’s induction of Chávez into its “Hall of Heros” begs the question: Would César have called for such a boycott?  Chávez battled against injustice and his energy was spent on strategic actions to a greater end. I think Chávez would have seen Donald Trump as an opportunistic, obnoxious symptom of a larger, more dangerous racism. I think he would have called-out Trump, his rhetoric and his followers, but I’m not so sure about an all-out boycott.  His answer to threats and physical harm was to keep doing what he was doing, peacefully. VL


latin post logoBy Michael Oleaga, Latin Post

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Cesar Chavez’s induction into its “Hall of Heroes.”

According to the USDA, the Hall of Heroes recognizes people or organizations who have made an impact on agriculture and U.S. rural communities.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hunger strike Chavez led to bring justice and equality to the people who feed America,” said USDA secretary Tom Vilsack. “[The USDA] is humbled to honor to Cesar Chavez, the man who led and organized peaceful, positive change for American farmworkers.”

Chavez is known for being a union leader and labor organizer who challenged for improved working conditions for many migrant workers. He founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which would merge with the Agricultural Workers Organization Committee to form the United Farm Workers, which still exists today.

Click HERE to read the full story.


[Photo by Oscar Castillo, courtesy of César E. Chávez Foundation]

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