NPR: Obama Calls for Holiday to Mark Cesar Chavez

Obama Calls for Holiday to Mark Cesar Chavez

Sen. Barack Obama has called for a national holiday to mark the birthday of Mexican-American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers, Cesar Chavez.

"Today is Cesar Chavez's birthday, and his life and legacy are important for us all to remember. From his beginnings as a farmworker picking lettuce and beets in the American Southwest, Cesar Chavez rose to help found the United Farm Workers, providing hundreds of thousands of people with better working conditions and the chance to live a better life. He proved what I have long believed -- that together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. When some said he could not organize farmworkers and take on the growers, he said, 'Si Se Puede' - 'Yes We Can.' It's a philosophy of hope and aspiration that inspires us today."

The call for a holiday can be seen as a direct appeal to Latino voters in the Democratic Party who have tended to support Sen. Hillary Clinton.

California currently observes Chavez' birthday, March 31, as a state holiday. Texas also recognizes the day, and it is an optional holiday in Arizona and Colorado.

12:15 PM ET | 03-31-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Pandering to the latina vote I see. Is this the first year Barack has noticed the birthday of Cesar Chavez.

Sent by Samuel | 12:48 PM ET | 03-31-2008

Don't know about all that farm worker stuff but I sure like his salad!

I wonder why Asian's are never pandered to nor do they seem to have the need to be?

Sent by deek | 1:47 PM ET | 03-31-2008

Boy things must be getting pretty desperate for Obama. Now he is trying to appeal to Latinos with this lame idea for a holiday. How about tackle a real issue like immigration reform. I???m sticking with Clinton.

Sent by Adrian | 2:54 PM ET | 03-31-2008

Perhaps this is the first year Obama has been in the spotlight, and his suggestion of making Chavez's birthday a holiday is taken seriously. Perhaps he is pandering. What politician doesn't? But please look into the life and work of Cesar Chavez. He is an amazing man whose life had an amazing impact, and a holiday celebrating his life would be just as "lame" as MLK day or Lincoln's birthday. Support whomever you wish in this election, but let's refrain from sounding disrespectful to our heroes just because we dislike Obama.

Sent by sem | 11:36 AM ET | 04-01-2008

Yes, Cesar Chavez was a great leader, but this is a little too obvious. Evidently Obama thinks Latino votes are for sale.

Sent by Susan | 1:26 PM ET | 04-01-2008

The signature of a President is required in order to establish a national holiday for Cesar Chavez. We welcome that Senator John Edwards, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Governor Bill Richardson and now Senator Barack Obama have publicly declared their support for the establishment of a national holiday for Cesar Chavez. We hope that Senator Clinton will as well. Cesar Chavez deserves this national recognition. Thank you to all the Presidential candidates who have declared their support of our effort to give this gift of Cesar's legacy to our nation. I am the President of Cesar E. Chavez National Holiday, the organization based in Los Angeles that is spearheading the nationwide effort for the holiday.

Sent by Evelina Alarcon | 12:00 PM ET | 04-03-2008

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