THE DESERT SUN (Palm Springs, California)

March 31, 2006

Legacy of César Chávez: Dignity
From fields of valley, he fought for farm workers

By Nicole C. Brambila

César Chávez fasted like Gandhi and marched like Martin Luther King Jr. as he championed the rights of farm workers 40 years ago.

His protests became legendary - from the cries for "Huelga! Strike!" in Coachella Valley fields to the international grape boycotts - making his name synonymous with the plight of those who stooped over the crops picking the food Americans put on their tables.

His crusade made him an international icon and a champion for farm worker rights that are still enjoyed today.

Eight states, including California, will celebrate Chávez's birthday today as an official state holiday while Congress haggles over a controversial immigration bill that has polarized the nation and catapulted the United Farm Workers organization back into the spotlight.

An estimated 5,000 farm workers marched Sunday to protest HR 4437, the proposed bill that would authorize local police agencies to enforce immigration law.