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Quote by Cesar Chavez

“We know what unions have done for other people. We have seen it and we have studied and we have cherished the idea of unionism. We have seen the history and development of unions in this country and we tell the growers that we want nothing more, but that we want our own union and we are going to fight for it as long as it takes.”

Quote by Cesar Chavez

Author

Cesar Chavez was a prominent civil rights activist who dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of farm workers in the United States. Born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona, Chavez grew up in a migrant farmworker family and experienced firsthand the hardships faced by agricultural laborers. He co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Through nonviolent protest, boycotts, and strikes, Chavez fought for fair wages, better working conditions, and improved living standards for farm workers. His efforts led to significant changes in the agricultural industry and inspired countless others to join the fight for social justice. more

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“...So they are trying to do something about it. They are not doing it by seeking charity. They are not begging at the welfare office. They are not, like many of their employers, lobbying the halls of Congress with their gold plated tin cups asking to be paid for not growing crops. They are trying to do it in the way that millions of other Americans have shown is the right way-organization, unionism, collective bargaining.”

“I am an organizer, not a union leader. A good organizer has to work hard and long. There are no shortcuts. You just keep talking to people, working with them, sharing, exchanging and they come along.”

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“I'm not going to ask for anything unless the workers want it. If they want it, they'll ask for it.”

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“There are many reasons for why a man does what de does. To be himself he must be able to give it all. If a leader cannot give it all he cannot expect his people to give anything.”

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“These observations tie in directly with the whole question of organizing. Why do we have leaders? We put some people out in the fields and all of a sudden they hit, they click. Everyone's happy with them and they begin to move mountains. With other people there are problems and heartaches. They just don't go. When we look and see what's happening, almost invariably the differences are along the lines of willingness to sacrifice and work long hours.”

“In non-violence the cause has to be just and clear as well as the means.”

Wells Mean Causes Clear Violence Non Violence

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“The non-violent technique does not depend for its success on the goodwill of the oppressor, but rather on the unfailing assistance of God.”

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“There's no reason to be non-violent. There's no challenge unless you are living for people.”

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“...people think non-violence is really weak and non-militant. These are misconceptions that people have because they don't understand what non-violence means. Non-violence takes more guts, if I can put it bluntly, than violence. Most violent acts are accomplished by getting the opponent off guard, and it doesn't take that much character, I think, if one wants to do it.”

People Ifs Thinking Want Mean I Can Character Violence Weak Violent Opponents Accomplished Guts Misconception Non Violence Militant Violent Acts

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“Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self-respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a re-dedication and re-commitment to the struggle for justice through non-violence.”