The Spirit of Cesar Chavez Will Never Die!

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A couple of months ago thousands of us stood with the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) to ask Governor Jerry Brown to pass the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act. But Gov. Brown didn't listen to us. Instead, he vetoed the act.

So what is the UFW doing now to make sure Gov. Brown listens? Walking—the same thing Cesar Chávez did many times when he gained the support of the nation. The UFW is currently on a 13-day, 200 mile march to Sacramento, CA. If you can't join them on the actual march1, the UFW is asking you to join them in a virtual march for the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, and a bill that would give farm workers the right to overtime after and 8-hour workday.2

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Farm labor is consistently listed as one of ten most dangerous jobs in the U.S.3 Last time we wrote you about the Fair Treatment For Farm Workers Act we told you the story of 17 year-old María Isabel. After picking grapes in the hot California sun for nine hours, she was rushed to the hospital in a coma and a body temperature of 108 degrees. The nearest water cooler was a 10-minute walk away, but workers say the strict foreman didn't allow them a long enough break to stop and get a drink. She died two days later.4 



That's why farm workers like Maria Escutia, who has been picking grapes for 10 years, have decided to march the full 13 days. When asked why she said: "I am doing this because I am very upset. I believe we work in dangerous conditions, in the heat, in the cold and I believe we deserve to be treated better without being intimidated at work; we deserve the right to have benefits. We deserve this and more." Will you stand with farm workers like Maria Escutia during their march and sign this petition?

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Gov. Brown stood with Cesar Chávez when he was governor, before, can you help give him the courage to stand with his spirit again?

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Thanks y ¡Adelante!
Laurie, Felipe, Kyle, Favianna, Roberto, Carlos and the rest of the Presente.org team

1. Capitol Rally - Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Now, United Farm Workers, 9/6/2011
http://action.ufw.org/page/event/detail/onedayevent/wrl8

2. Farm workers are marching to Sacramento. Join Them Virtually, United Farm Workers,
http://action.ufw.org/page/s/200milemarch

3. Think Again: Is Farm Work Funny, Mr. Colbert, Center for American Progress, 09/30/2010
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/09/ta093010.html

4. Teen Farmworker's Heat Death Sparks Outcry, National Public Radio
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91240378