Thousands of farm workers and supporters jammed the huge tent for songs andspeeches.

Volume 4, Number 6

Food and Justice

June 1987

Magazine of the UnitedFarm Workers ofAmerica, AFL·CIOLa Paz, Keene, CA 93570

National Executive Board:

President:Cesar ChavezSecretary-Treasurer:Peter VelascoFirst Vice·President:Dolores HuertaSecond Vice-President:Frank OrtizThird Vice-President:David Martinez

Members:

Arturo RodriguezArturo MendozaOscar MondragonBen Maddock

Editor.

Cesar Chavez

Associate Editor.

Rev. Chris Hartmire

Writers:

Marvin CortnerFr. Ken Irrgang

Photographer.

Victor Aleman

Production Director.

Paul Chavez

©1986 The tille United FarmWorkers of America, AFL-CIO,FOOD AND JUSTICE is registeredwith the United States Patent andTrademark Office.

FOOD AND JUSTICE (ISSNQ8l!5-0704) is published monthlyfor $5 per year by the United FarmWorkers of America, AFL-CIO, OldHighway 58, La Paz, California'93570. Second-class postage ispaid at Keene, California.

POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to FOOD AND JUSTICE,P.O. 62, La Paz, California 93570.

2

25TH ANNIVERSARY

Big Boycott­Birthday

FiestaY es, even Forty Acres - the spacious, historic UFW

site in DeLano - was barely big enough to hold

the thousands of farm workers andfriends who flooded it on May 23 for afestive celebration of the birth of theunion 25 years ago.

But from Cesar Chavez' statement atthe opening press conference throughthe last inspiring speech by labor leadersat the evening program, the 25th anni­versary fiesta was more than just acelebration of the past. In fact, "Boy­cott Grapes!" edged out "Happy Birth­day!" for the day's top billing.

Chavez said a summer boycott offen­sive would be launched in every majorgrape-consuming market in NorthAmerica against grape growers' newmarketing season beginning this month.

"Seventeen years ago this summer,Delano grape growers came to this veryhall to sign their first contracts with us asa result of the power of the boycott," hesaid. "And with our new drive againstsupermarkets and our growing interna­tionallabor support, they're going to beback in Delano for another commandperformance sooner than they think."

U.S. Labor SupportHeading a long list of U.S. labor

leaders who announced support of thestepped-up grape boycott was ThomasDonahue, keynote speaker and nationalsecretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO,

3

Cesar Chavez with U.S., Canadian, and Western European labor leaders at openingpress conference: California grape growers will be "back in Delano for another com­mand performance sooner than they think. "

John Henning, president of the Califor­nia" Labor Federation, was honored bythe UFW for his many years of servicefor farm workers.

5

Shirley G.E. Carr, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, receives thunderousapplause after telling Chavez and farm workers: "... we are with you all the way!"

workers were made by Canadian andWestern European labor leaders. Speak­ing in support of the UFW boycott wereShirley G.E. Carr, president of the two­million member Canadian Labour Con­gress, and Gord Wilson, president of theOntario Federation of Labour.

Carr, the first woman to be electedpresident of the CLC, promised thesame kind of support for the currentUFW boycott that previous CLC presi­dents and millions of "Canadians with aconscience" provided in both previousinternational grape boycotts. Repeatedlyinterrupted by applause during her im­passioned speech, Carr dramaticallysummed up Canadian labor support:"Cesar, farm workers, you are not alone- we are with you all the way!"

Carr also received a special anniver­sary award for the support both she andthe CLC are giving the UFW boycott.Both Carr and Henning were presentedlarge portraits of themselves with UFW

Thomas Donahue, national secretary­treasurer, AFL-CIO, declared boycottsupport at press conference and duringhis keynote address.

who, on behalf of AFL-CIO PresidentLane Kirkland and the organization's 89"affiliated unions and 13 million mem­bers, pledged boycott support: "Wehave been with you in the struggle thepast 25 years, and we will be with youfor the next 25."

John Henning, president of theCalifornia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO,who was the recipient of a special UFWanniversary award for his long-time sup­port of the farm worker movement, ex­pressed his gratitude to the UFW forhaving given "a renewed sense of moralauthority" to the American labor move­ment. "We supported your boycotts inthe '60s and '70s," he said, "and we em­brace your grape boycott now."

International Support

4

Proclamations of international boy­cott support representing millions of

Dolores Lopez places marker in front ofthe creek myrtle tree planted in memoryof her son, Rene, slain near Fresno in1983.

Selma Freeman plants the first tree in Martyrs' Park in memory of her daughter,Nan, the first UFW martyr. At her left is her hubsand, Milton Freeman, and theirdaughter, Liz Freeman Spears.

An Idaho locust tree was planted inmemory of Nan Freeman, a young col­lege student killed by a truck on a picketline in Florida in 1972. Assisting in theplanting were her parents, Milton andSelma Freeman, and her sister, Liz Free­man Spears, from Massachusetts. A raintree was dedicated to Nagi Daifullah, ayoung farm worker from South Yemenwho was killed in Lamont in 1973. Hisfather, Moshe Daifullah, now living inOakland, helped plant the tree. And inhonor of Juan de la Cruz, a farm workershot to death on a picket line near Arvinonly two days after Daifullah's death, amagnolia tree was planted with theassistance of Juan's son, Jose.

A jacaranda tree was chosen to com­memorate Rufino Contreras, a farmworker shot to death by companyforemen near Calexico in 1979. His wife,Maximina Rosa, and Julio Cesar, one oftheir two children, were present for theceremony. And Dolores Lopez was pre­sent to help dedicate a creek myrtle tree

-

Martyrs' Park

Justin Ostro, general vice-president ofthe National Maritime Union ofAmerica, announcing his union'sboycott support at press conference.

the plight of U.S. farm workers, and wewill do everything in our power to helpyou." The IFPAAW, based in Geneva,Switzerland, has a membership of sixmillion workers in 102 organizations in60 countries.

Additional international support camein a message of solidarity, delivered byDonahue during his keynote address,from John Vanderveken, general secre­tary and principal elected officer of theInternational Confederation of FreeTrade Unions. The ICTFU, headquar­tered in Brussels, Belgium, has 85 millionmembers in 145 affiliated organizationsin 97 countries on all five continents.

One of the most touching events ofthe day was the blessing and dedicationof Martyrs' Park in memory of five per­sons who gave up their lives during theunion's 25-year struggle. Occasionalsobs of grief rose above prayers intonedby leaders of Jewish, Moslem, andChristian faiths as family members andUFW leaders planted five trees in theirhonor.

leaders, paintings especially commis­sioned for the occasion.

Borje Svensson, president of theInternational Federation of Plantation,Agricultural and Allied Workers, whohad come to La Paz earlier for strategymeetings with UFW leaders, told thecrowd, "Our members well understand

Gord Wilson, president of the OntarioFederation of Labour, pledges the sup­port of his 800,OOo-member organiza­tion for the grape boycott.

Borje Svensson, general secretary of theGeneva-based IFPAA W, declares onbehalf of his six million members: "Wewill do all in our power to help you. "

67

Full tables early in the day were emptiedof an array of buttons and banners bynightfall.

workouts, too: the tempting aroma ofMexican-style food floating over FortyAcres ... families and friends quench­ing their thirst on sodas and Stroh's beer(not a single drop of boycotted Coor'swas on hand to spoil the fiesta!) ...shoppers rubbing shoulders and empty­ing their billfolds as they bought outbooths filled with boycott buttons,T-shirts, and commemorative anniver­sary books ... bear hugs and hand­shakes as farm workers, old friends, andformer volunteers greeted one another

~ ~

Mariachi music filled the tent and resounded throughout Forty Acres all afternoon.

This young lady proves that mariachimusic is more than just beautifulsounds.

Fiesta ImpressionsFrom the sight of the massive 400 x

loo-foot tent visitors first caught aglimpse of as they approached FortyAcres in the afternoon until the sound ofthe last departing car faded away in thenight, the senses were bombarded withvivid impressions.

Eyes and ears were hard put to absorball the sights and sounds of the busy day:cameras clicking and flashing during theopening press conference ... the snazzyuniforms and pulsating beat of the "EISol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez"mariachi band serenading in the after­noon and the "Sensacion 83" and"Nostalgia" bands keeping dancers onthe floor late into the night . . . thedeafening roar of thousands in andaround the big tent as they applaudedspeeches, shouted "Viva la Causa" and"Boycott Grapes," and sang along withLuis Valdez and EI Teatro Campesino... the brightly colored mural coveringthe entire back of the stage and a host offlags and symbols everywhere.

Smell, taste, and touch got pleasant

Maximina Rosa Contreras, wife ofRufino Contreras, the fourth UFWmar­tyr, speaks at evening program. At left,her young son, Julio Cesar, is comfortedby Dolores Huerta, first vice-presidentof the UFW.

in memory of her son, Rene, who wasshot to death by company agents nearFresno in September 1983. Five clustersof red balloons were released to soarabove the park as the poignant cere­monyended.

Luis Valdez (second from right) and the famed EI Teatro Campesino had the hugecrowd clapping and singing along to the farm worker anthem, "Huelga en General, "and other early movement songs.

. .

ABO VE: Chavez embraces Jose de la Cruz,son of the third UFW martyr, Juan de la Cruz.BELOW: Labor leaders sharing the stagewith Dolores Huerta during the evening pro­gram are (left to right): Thomas Martinez,secretary-treasurer, National Maritime Unionof America; Justin Ostro, general vice­president, 1nternational Association ofMachinists and Aerospace Workers; and J.J.Rodriguez, president, Los Angeles CountyCentral Labor Council.

Reminiscing at a reception for guests are (left to right): Dolores Huerta; Rachelle Donahue,wife of Thomas Donahue; Rebecca Flores Harrington, state UFW director in Texas; FredRoss, Sr., who worked with Chavez and Huerta in the Community Service Organization in thelate 1950s and early '60s; and Jacques Levy, author of "Cesar Chavez: An Autobiography ofLa Causa."

FRIENDS AT

Led by Luis Valdez and El Teatro Campe­sino, the audience joins hands and sings "De'Colores." Pictured (left to right) are: Fr.Eugene Boyle, vicar of 1nter-Religious andPublic Affairs of the San Jose Diocese;Deacon Sal Alvarez, national executivesecretary of Los P.A.D.R.E.S.; and SteveNutter, regional director, Western StatesRegion, 1nternational Ladies' GarmentWorkers Union.

THE FIESTA

and reminisced ... and, finally, theideal grace note to make the day perfect:70-degree temperatures, sunshine, andbalmy breezes - the kind of weatheryou pray for for such celebrations buthardly ever get.

All in all, it was quite a bash. Y

A well-organized food program kepthungry guests from long waits for a feastof Mexican dishes.

Father and son take a breather on theForty Acres lawn.

A guest examines the 25th anniversary commemorative book.

$16.00

$ 8.00

$ 5.00 ea.

$ 5.00 ea.

IN CELEBRATION!The Graphics Workshop Presents

Knit Shirts - Red shirts with embroidery• black eagle and Cesar's signature

or • black eagle only50-50 blend, union made, S, M, L; or XL

T-Shirts with the 25th Anniversary logo, white or red shirts,50-50 blend, union made, S, M, L, XL, (XXL in white)

Caps with the 25th Anniversary logored, adjustable, union made

Visors with the 25th Anniversary logowhite, adjustable, union made

To order, please use the form on the back of this magazine.

LEFT: "Long time, no see" greetingswere the order of the day. Here friendslaugh over old times with Fr. BillO'Donnell, St. Joseph the WorkmanChurch, Berkeley.BELOW: Visitors from Christian Hut­terian communities in the East joinCesar Chavez at a reception on the eveof the 25th anniversary celebration.From left to right are Peter Blough, IanWinter, and Leonard Maendel.

LEFT: Sharing ajoke at the guests' reception are Fr.Luis Olivares, Queen of Angels Church, LosAngeles; Dolores Huerta; and John Henning.ABOVE: Father Louis Vitale, Santa BarbaraMinister Provincial, Franciscan Friars, delivers theopening prayer at the evening program.

P. Montalbetti

Cesar Chavez holdsup framed UFW flagpresented to MosheDaifullah, father ofNagi, the second UFWmartyr, as FrankOrtiz, second vice­president, looks on.

12

Chavez welcomes farm workers and guests to the evening program.

LEFT: A generation of proud /lag­wavers at the dance.BELOW: This dignified couple, vet­erans of the 1966 March to Sacramentoand years of picketing and marching,enjoyed every minute of the fiesta.

"All in all, it was quite a bash!"

All day long, until just before the danceended, Cesar Chavez' indefatigable96-year-old mother, Juana, was greetedby family and friends.

Edmund Charles, an officer of theNan Freeman Workers Commit­tee at the Coca-Cola Company,was among a group of farmworkers and supporters who camefrom Florida for the fiesta.

Marvin G. Cortner

FIESTASNAPS

Josh, a spittin' image of David Aroner, execu­tive director of state-wide Local 535, ServiceEmployees International Union, Oakland, findsthe lap of his father too inviting to pass up.

14

IN CELEBRATION!OTY.

Our Commemorative Journal78 pages, hundreds of photographs

Wine Glasses, set of 4,our black eagle with "25 Years" in silver

Silver Anniversary FlagsSilver Anniversary Eagle Pins

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