Cesar Chavez Day 2020: History and Significance of the day

Cesar Chavez Day is seen in the United States on March 31 every year. It celebrates the birthday of César Estrada Chávez and it serves as a tribute to his pledge to social equity and respect for human dignity.

Cesar Chavez Day is a U.S. government commemorative holiday, broadcasted by President Barack Obama in 2014. The holiday celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year.

Cesar Chavez born as César Estrada Chávez was an American farm laborer, labor leader, and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).

It is celebrated to promote service to the community out of appreciation for Cesar Chavez’s life and work. Some state government offices, community colleges, libraries, and public schools are closed. Texas additionally perceives the day, and it is an optional holiday in Arizona (official holiday in the city of Phoenix, Arizona) and Colorado. Americans are asked to “observe this day with appropriate service, community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez’s enduring legacy.” also, there are celebrations in his honor in Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, and New Mexico and has been seen in California since 1995, in Texas since 2000 and in Colorado since 2003 as state holidays (optional in Texas and Colorado).

The purpose of this holiday is to praise the birthday and the legacy of civil rights and labor movement leader Cesar Chavez. State offices and schools, in any case, are just closed in states which have this day listed as a state holiday also. For example, state offices and schools are closed in Arizona, California and New Mexico are closed on this day.

César Chávez Day History

On March 31, 2008, while a senator, Barack Obama embraced making 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 farmworkers 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.” Grassroots associations kept on asking the formation 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.”

Cesar Chavez Day has been celebrated in Reno, Nevada, since 2003. A state law passed in 2009 (AB 301) requires Nevada’s governor to every year issue a decree proclaiming March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.

On March 28, 2014, President Obama utilized his authority to announce each March 31st as Cesar Chavez Day.

Cesar Chavez Day as a national holiday has picked up help from musician Carlos Santana, civil rights and labor leaders. Rallies were held in 2006 in Los Angeles to raise awareness beyond California. Right now, a significant impediment to this day becoming a national holiday is brought about by a standard in Congress that forestalls bills with national holiday provisions from being presented. The holiday proposal would need to conquer that hindrance before legislation can be presented.

Funding for César Chávez Day was briefly suspended in California around 2004 because of issues with the budget in the state. The courts were partitioned about the holiday in 2005, where some legal staff laborers went to work however the ways to courtrooms and filing offices were locked. Current efforts are made to push for César Chávez Day to become a national holiday in the United States.

How to celebrate César Chávez Day

César Chávez Day celebrations are held in numerous parts of the United States. It is a state holiday in California and an optional holiday in states, for example, Colorado and Texas, however, its celebrations go past these three states. Different states where celebrations and different activities happen to pay tribute to César Chávez incorporate Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, and New Mexico.

Key community leaders use this event to speak to the general population about values that César Chávez appeared in his lifetime and how they had a beneficial outcome on society. Conversations, debates and media consideration may concentrate on issues that he was effectively engaged with. These issues are significant to Americans today and focus on worker’s rights, fair wages, pension advantages, and medical inclusion.

Numerous schools have classroom exercises that attention on César Chávez’s accomplishments, writings, and speeches on or near César Chávez Day. Community and business breakfasts or lunch get-togethers are likewise held to respect César Chávez’s accomplishments and prompt expectations within American communities.

César Chávez Day is a state holiday in California so government offices, educational institutions, and numerous businesses are closed. State government offices in Colorado may grant requests for César Chávez Day in place of another holiday in the equivalent fiscal year. Be that as it may, government offices must be open. César Chávez Day is an optional state holiday in Texas.

Cesar Chavez Day is praised everywhere throughout the United States. On this day, numerous community and civil rights leaders accept the opportunity to talk about the values of Cesar Chavez and the techniques he used to have a positive outcome on society. Conversations and debates likewise happen on this day to carry the public’s thoughtfulness regarding key issues of the day. Issues that can incorporate worker’s rights, medical inclusion for laborers, fair wages and advantages. A few people simply use the day to recollect Cesar Chavez and the entirety of the great he has accomplished for laborer’s rights in the United States.