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2025-03-31T06:58:50Z

Reverted edit by Studioyippy (talk) to last version by Discospinster

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{{short description|US commemorative holiday on March 31}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Cesar Chavez Day
| image = Cesar Chavez Day.jpg
| image_size = 225px
| caption = Poster commemorating Cesar Chavez Day
| nickname =
| observedby = (1) A formal holiday in US states of [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], and [[Utah]] (2) An optional holiday in US states of [[Colorado]] and [[Texas]], state offices open with limited staffing (3) A festival day in [[Nebraska]] and [[Nevada]] (4) A commemorative proclamation holiday by the United States
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = annual
| scheduling = same day each year
| date = March 31
| mdy = yes
| type =
}}

'''Cesar Chavez Day''' is a U.S. federal [[List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation|commemorative holiday]], proclaimed by President [[Barack Obama]] in 2014.<ref name="federal2">{{cite web | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/28/presidential-proclamation-cesar-chavez-day-2014 | work=[[whitehouse.gov]] | title=Presidential Proclamation – Cesar Chavez Day | date=March 28, 2014 | via=[[NARA|National Archives]] | access-date=March 30, 2016}}</ref> The holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the [[civil rights]] and [[US labor movement|labor movement]] activist [[Cesar Chavez]] on March 31 every year.

==Observances by state==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan=1| State || Observance
|-
| [[Arizona]] || Observed by the cities of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenix.gov/calendar/holidays/2461|title = Cesar Chavez Day (Observed) (City Offices Closed)}}</ref> and [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-02 |title=City Holidays |url=https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/City-Holidays |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.tucsonaz.gov |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[California]] || March 31,<ref>Cal. Gov. Code [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=6700. § 6700(a)(7)], eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.</ref> moved to the following Monday when March 31 falls on a Sunday,<ref>Cal. Gov. Code [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=6701. § 6701(a)], eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.</ref> is designated as the state holiday "Cesar Chavez Day". Public schools may, but are not required to, close in observance.<ref>Cal. Educ. Code [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&sectionNum=37220.5. § 37220.5], eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Accessed April 2, 2024.</ref>
|-
| [[Colorado]] || Declared as an optional holiday on March 31<ref name=ccday>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/cesar-chavez-day|title=Cesar Chavez Day in the United States|publisher=www.timeanddate.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Minnesota]] || The thirty-first day of March, recognized as Cesar Chavez Day<ref>Codified at [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/10.555 MN statute 10.555].</ref>
|-
| [[Texas]] || Declared as an optional holiday on March 31<ref name=ccday/>
|-
| [[Utah]] || State offices and school is optional<ref name=8states>{{Cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/31/a-not-quite-national-holiday-eight-states-celebrate-cesar-chavez-day/ |title=A Not-Quite National Holiday: Eight States Celebrate Cesar Chavez Day |first=Jenny |last=Wilson |magazine=Time|date=March 31, 2011 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Washington (state)|Washington]] || The thirty-first day of March, recognized as Cesar Chavez Day
|}

==Origins==
{{Main article|Cesar Chavez}}
[[File:Cesar chavez crop2.jpg|250px|right|thumb|César Chávez in 1974]]
Cesar Chavez (born Cesar Estrada Chavez, {{IPA|es|ˈsesaɾ esˈtɾaða ˈtʃaβes|local}}; March 31, 1927{{spaced ndash}}April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, [[labor leader]] and [[civil rights]] activist, who, with [[Dolores Huerta]], co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the [[United Farm Workers]] union, UFW).<ref name="points">{{cite web|url=http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/extra-mile/cesar-chavez|publisher=Points of Light|title=Cesar Chavez|access-date=June 18, 2014}}</ref>

It is commemorated to promote service to the community in honor of [[Cesar Chavez]]'s life and work. Some state government offices, community colleges, libraries, and public schools are closed. Texas also recognizes the day, and it is an optional holiday in Arizona (official holiday in the cities of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] and [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]]) and [[Colorado]]. Americans are urged to "regard this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez's enduring legacy."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/30/presidential-proclamation-cesar-chavez-day|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Presidential Proclamation—Cesar Chavez Day|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|date=March 30, 2011}}</ref> In addition, there are celebrations in his honor in [[Arizona]], [[Michigan]], [[Nebraska]], and [[New Mexico]] and has been observed in California since 1995, in Texas since 2000 and in Colorado since 2001 as state holidays (optional in Texas and Colorado).<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/cesar-chavez-day | title=Cesar Chavez Day in United States}}</ref>

==History==
===Proclamations===
On March 31, 2008, while a senator, [[Barack Obama]] endorsed the idea of creating a national holiday in Chavez's honor: "Chavez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on. As farm workers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union."<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.cesarchavezholiday.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512153031/http://www.cesarchavezholiday.org/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 12, 2007 | title=Barack Obama calls for National Holiday for Cesar E. Chavez}}</ref> Grassroots organizations continued to urge creation of such a national holiday; and, on March 30, 2011, Obama as president reiterated his support: "Cesar Chavez's legacy provides lessons from which all Americans can learn."<ref>{{citation|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/30/presidential-proclamation-cesar-chavez-day|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Presidential Proclamation—Cesar Chavez Day|date=March 30, 2011}}</ref>

The City of Sacramento has recognized Cesar Chavez's birthday as a City Holiday since 1993.<ref>[[citation|url=http://records.cityofsacramento.org/ViewDoc.aspx?ID=s6tFBnt4W+IfryOBaWQPWjUlw2fqOq//]]</ref>

Cesar Chavez Day has been celebrated in [[Reno, Nevada]], since 2003. A state law passed in 2009 (AB 301) requires Nevada's governor to annually issue a proclamation declaring March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.

On March 28, 2014, President Obama used his authority to proclaim March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.<ref>{{citation|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/28/presidential-proclamation-cesar-chavez-day-2014|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Presidential Proclamation – Cesar Chavez Day, 2014|date=March 28, 2014}}</ref>

===National holiday movement===
[[File:Santana Acer Arena (5558151833) (cropped).jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[Carlos Santana]], leader of national movement to declare Cesar Chavez Day a national holiday]]
Cesar Chavez Day as a national holiday has gained support from musician [[Carlos Santana]], civil rights and labor leaders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cesarchavezholiday.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512153031/http://www.cesarchavezholiday.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 12, 2007|title=Cesar E. Chavez National Holiday|website=www.cesarchavezholiday.org}}</ref> Rallies were held in 2006 in Los Angeles with the goal of raising awareness beyond California. Currently, a major obstacle to this day becoming a national holiday is caused by a rule in Congress that prevents bills with national holiday provisions from being introduced. The holiday proposal would need to overcome that obstacle before legislation can be introduced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc7.com/archive/6043773/|title=Cesar Chavez supporters rally for a national holiday | ABC7 Los Angeles Archive | abc7.com|first=ABC7|last=Archive|website=ABC7 Los Angeles}}</ref>

==Reception==
The day highlights the legacy of Cesar Chavez, and focuses on [[Chicano]] or [[Mexican Americans]] efforts in the labor movement.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Foner|first1=Nancy|last2=Fredrickson|first2=George M.|title=Not Just Black and White: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Immgiration, Race, and Ethnicity in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5O6FAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA211|date=22 April 2004|publisher=Russell Sage Foundation|isbn=978-1-61044-211-4|page=211}} {{cite book|last=Tatum|first=Charles M.|title=Chicano Popular Culture, Second Edition: Que Hable El Pueblo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dV80DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA244|date=5 September 2017|publisher=University of Arizona Press|isbn=978-0-8165-3652-8|page=244}} {{cite book|last1=Meier|first1=Matt S.|last2=Gutiérrez|first2=Margo|last3=Gutierrez|first3=Margo|title=The Mexican American Experience: An Encyclopedia|url=https://archive.org/details/mexicanamericane0000meie|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-31643-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/mexicanamericane0000meie/page/83 83]}} {{cite web |url=https://wearemitu.com/things-that-matter/cesar-chavez-farmworkers-activist/ |title=Cesar Chavez Changed The Way Our Country Treats Immigrant Farm Workers But There's Still A Lot Of Work To Be Done |author= |date=12 June 2019 |website=Mitu |access-date=27 February 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228073730/https://wearemitu.com/things-that-matter/cesar-chavez-farmworkers-activist/ |url-status=dead }} {{cite news |last=Clark |first=Christine |date=21 March 2012 |title=UC San Diego Salutes Cesar Chavez Day with Month of Activities in April |url=https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/uc_san_diego_salutes_cesar_chavez_day_with_month_of_activities_in_april |work=University of California, San Diego |access-date=27 February 2020 }}</ref> Events surrounding the holiday largely ignore the actions of the [[Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee]], and its [[Filipino American]] membership and leadership, who began the [[Delano grape strike|Delano Grape Strike]] which propelled Cesar Chavez to international notoriety.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rojas |first=Leslie Berestein |date=1 April 2011 |title=The forgotten history of the Filipino laborers who worked with Cesar Chavez |url=https://www.scpr.org/blogs/multiamerican/2011/04/01/7203/the-asian-american-farm-worker-legacy/ |work=KPCC |location=Pasadena |access-date=27 February 2020 }} {{cite news |last=Tabafunda |first=James |date=22 November 2013 |title=Filipino American organizer's legacy ignored, but not by all |url=https://nwasianweekly.com/2013/11/filipino-american-organizers-legacy-ignored/ |work=Northwest Asian Weekly |location=Seattle |access-date=27 February 2020 }}</ref> Due to this Filipino Americans have been critical of the day's focus, which excludes acknowledgement of [[History of Filipino Americans|their history]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fanhs-national.org/filam/fanhs-speaks-out-on-the-new-film-cesar-chavez/ |title=FANHS Speaks Out on the New Film CESAR CHAVEZ |last1=Muriera |first1=Ron P. |last2=Orpilla |first2=Mel |date=28 March 2014 |publisher=Filipino American National Historical Society |access-date=27 February 2020 }} {{cite news |last=Oh |first=Hansook |date=27 March 2012 |title=Remembering the Delano Manongs: The Filipinos behind Chavez and Huerta |url=https://sundial.csun.edu/51119/opinions/remembering-the-delano-manongs-the-filipinos-behind-chavez-and-huerta/ |work=The Sundial |location=California State University, Northridge |access-date=27 February 2020 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Public holidays in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/index1.aspx A Model curriculum for teaching Cesar Chavez's legacy]

{{Cesar Chavez|state=expanded}}
{{US Federal Holidays}}
{{US Holidays}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cesar Chavez Day}}
[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:Observances in the United States by presidential proclamation]]
[[Category:United Farm Workers]]
[[Category:State holidays in the United States]]
[[Category:Cesar Chavez]]
[[Category:Birthdays by person]]

Cesar Chavez Day - Revision history

imported>Parksfan1955: Reverted edit by Studioyippy (talk) to last version by Discospinster