1,000 farm workers at state Capitol all
day for rallies, vigils, prayer services
Sacramento, Calif.—One thousand farm workers from across California will engage in rallies, vigils and prayer services from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight on Tuesday as they ask Gov. Jerry Brown to sign SB 104, the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, on the final day he has to act on the United Farm Workers-sponsored legislation. Farm workers believe SB 104 confronts the governor with a clear choice: Side with arguments from the state’s powerful $36 billion-a-year agricultural industry or side with farm workers, the poorest workers in the state.
Among those at the Capitol will be three of Cesar Chavez’s children—Eloise Chavez Carrillo, Sylvia Chavez Delgado and Paul Chavez—plus Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna, Monterey County Supervisor Fernando Armenta, Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo and Cindy Estrada, first Latina international vice president of the United Auto Workers. Participating in a 1 p.m. prayer service will be Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast, a longtime friend of the governor, and Franciscan Brother Mark Schroeder.
On Monday, farm workers delivered Gov. Brown more than 64,000 signatures of Californians on top of more than 50,000 farm workers who signed postcards asking the governor to sign the legislation.
Tuesday’s farm worker schedule at the state Capitol includes:
7-9 a.m. Human billboard line along the north side of the Capitol on L Street.
9-10 a.m. Vigil at the governor’s office featuring Cesar Chavez’s wood rocking chair in the hope Gov. Brown will use it to sign SB 104.
12 noon-1 p.m. Rally with farm workers and supporters.
1-2 p.m. Prayer service outside the governor’s office.
4-6 p.m. Farm workers surrounding the Capitol building.
6-7 p.m. Mass on the north steps of the Capitol.
7 p.m.-12 midnight Candlelight vigil at the Capitol.