Farm workers praying for Senator Kennedy’s recovery
United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez issued the following statement today (May 20, 2008) from the union’s Keene, Calif. headquarters:
The entire Farm Worker Movement and the Chavez family are praying for Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s recovery. Since picking up the torch upon the passing of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, no political leader in America has championed our cause over the decades with more consistency or greater devotion.
Most recently, Senator Kennedy has been a leading sponsor of the landmark AgJobs bill, negotiated by the UFW and the nation’s agricultural industry, which would allow undocumented farm workers in this country to earn the permanent legal right to stay by continuing to work in agriculture.
Like his brother, Ted Kennedy never tried telling the farm workers what we needed to do. He just asked what we needed and how he could help. Then year after year, time after time, he stood by our side. Now we pray for Senator Kennedy and his family and that God permits Senator Kennedy’s voice to be raised for many years to come on behalf of America’s poor and dispossessed.