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Ernie Gonzales Wichita LCLAA President
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Braving the after effects of the heaviest snow of the season, more than 100 turned out for
Wichita’s second annual Cesar Chavez Celebration on Sunday, March 29, including State Representatives Delia Garcia and Gail Finney, Labor Federation President Judy Pierce
and District 70 leader Rita Rogers.
The celebration was organized by the Greater Wichita Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor
Federation, and State Representative Delia Garcia. The centerpiece of the celebration was a showing of the documentary "Viva La Causa."
"It is especially important that the younger generation of Hispanic workers know our history,"
said Ernest Gonzales, President of the Wichita Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. And a member of IAM LL 839 "Cesar Chavez is one of the most important and inspiring parts of that history.
"Viva La Causa" is a new documentary on Cesar
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Judy Pierce, Labor Fed Presidnent talks to Dave Raobertson
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Chavez and the United Farm Workers, produced by the Teaching Tolerance Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The 40 minute documentary features dramatic re-enactments, historical
film clips, and interviews with participants in the early days of the UFW. The Wichita LCLAA chapter is making the video available to union and community
groups. It has already been shown to Hope Street Youth Development and during WSU’s Student Labor Week of Action. If you’d like to show the video to your group call Ernie Gonzales at 737-3166.
A short video on the widespread abuse of child labor in American labor was also shown and
introduced by Carolyn Benitiz of the SER corporation. (View the shocking video on child labor in US agriculture).
The celebration was held just two day before March 31 which is both the birthday of Cesar
Chavez and the anniversary of the founding of the United Farm Workers.
"Cesar Chavez is a hero to the entire labor movement," said Judy Pierce, President of the
Wichita/ Hutchinson Labor Federation and District 70 Secretary-Treasurer. . "His commitment to social justice and to organizing the most vulnerable workers is just as relevant today as it
was in the ‘sixties." Jake Lowen, political director of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation
, said Cesar Chavez realized we are all one connected a union of humanity. What affects the least of us affects us all.” Veronia Casados told about persuading WSU official to honor the
grape boycott during the 1960s. “ It’s not what you say, it’s what you do and we did something.”
Rabbi Moti Rieber, director of the Mid Kansas Jewish Federation told the gathering that as the
Jews world wide observe Passover, they are reminded to remember that they were slaves in Egypt and to remember the slaves of today. Child labor in the fields, the slave-like conditions
of Florida farm workers make this a live issue. “It is not a Spanish, it is not a Mexican issue.. . It is an issue which must concern us all..”
Rieber closed with the farmworkers prayer authored by Cesar Chavez which ends with these words
Let the spirit flourish and grow;So we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;For they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us; So we can change the world.
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