In a historic vote on Monday, Nov. 7, I along with the Gilroy City Council unanimously approved a resolution to honor Cesar Chavez Day as a recognized and observed holiday for the City of Gilroy!
I was honored to have championed the resolution to set aside this day to honor the legacy of this influential leader and recognize the work he did which touched the lives of so many in this community.
Many members of the community, representatives from non-profits and other organizations came out in support of the holiday including Andres Chavez who is not only Cesar’s grandson but who also serves as the Executive Director of the National Chavez Center.
In my remarks during the council discussion, I stated, “As a first generation son of immigrant parents, I saw first hand the struggles they went through to try and provide for our family. I remember times when as children we picked apricots and other fruits in the fields to help make ends meet; so I understood the sacrifices we all had to make in order to have the best life we could here.
“Cesar is a source of inspiration for me and so many others because he led by example. He understood the struggles of migrant workers, and knew it was up to him to do something about it. He took his passion for the cause and channeled it into action that brought international attention to the exploitation of farm workers and secured their right to unionize. He built relationships with his community, worked across multicultural lines and brought people together to bring about transformational change. These are the values that have influenced me in my mission to serve this community as a public servant.”
I thank my fellow council members for their support of the resolution and announced a celebration to commemorate the holiday on March 31, 2023.
Thank you to my fellow council members and the residents of Gilroy for your ongoing commitment and dedication to the community and for making the Cesar Chavez holiday a reality for the City of Gilroy!
Fred M. Tovar, M.Ed.
Gilroy City Councilmember
