[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the 
life and achievements of Cesar Estrada Chavez, a man who led our nation 
in the struggle for civil rights and whose efforts helped create a 
better future for all Americans.
  On March 31, 2011, we will celebrate Cesar Chavez Day to remember his 
courageous fight for justice and the lessons he taught us about the 
power people have when they join together to face the challenges before 
them.
  Colorado's Hispanic community heard that message loud and clear 
during the days of the civil rights movement. Our State was an 
important stage for engaging Mexican-Americans in that time. Not only 
did Chavez-led efforts bring better living and working conditions to 
farm workers of all backgrounds in Colorado, from the Eastern Plains to 
the San Luis Valley and the Western Slope, but this movement also 
ignited service veterans, students and community leaders in Colorado to 
champion a cause that promoted equality, justice and empowerment. 
Leaders like Colorado's own Rodolfo ``Corky'' Gonzales, who as a young 
student labored in the beet fields and later became a respected poet 
and leader in the civil rights movement, joined an effort to speak for 
those who felt they had no voice and empowered those who felt helpless. 
Gonzales found strength in youth empowerment, and he dedicated his life 
to helping Hispanic youth in Colorado and the Southwest realize their 
value in their communities. The legacy of these leaders can be seen 
today in the many organizations that grew from this movement and which 
continue to inspire youth and veterans of all backgrounds to develop 
their talents and skills for a brighter future.
  Our Western heritage is richer for the hard fought contributions of 
Rodolfo Gonzalez, Cesar Chavez and others. These figures drew on their 
determination and hard work to cultivate a more informed youth and sow 
the seeds of civil justice in the West. Chavez embodied an unparalleled 
commitment to millions who worked the land to provide for their 
families and for a growing country. With his father unable to work, 
Chavez himself labored in the fields to support his family and provide 
a better life for them. He worked under poor conditions and earned low 
wages, facing the same struggles as so many migrant workers. Chavez's 
story serves as a testament to a community searching for justice. It 
was his resolute leadership that brought national attention to the 
unacceptable working conditions and unfair pay faced by farm workers in 
the West and across America.
  Through nonviolent protest, Chavez mobilized and improved the lives 
of millions, and he is a role model for Coloradans, and all Americans. 
This March, communities throughout Colorado will once again come 
together to honor his legacy and the continued fight for justice. 
Today, I am proud to rise on behalf of Coloradans, to honor those 
continuing his work and to acknowledge Chavez and the vision captured 
in his own uniting words, ``We have seen the future, and the future is 
ours.''

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