Kucinich, Kaptur seek Cesar Chavez national holiday
Posted by Sabrina Eaton
The March 31 birthday of labor organizer Cesar Chavez would become a national holiday if a plan endorsed by Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur comes to fruition.
"This is not about having a day off, it’s about having a day on," Kucinich said today at a Capitol Hill press conference to promote a resolution authored by California Democratic Rep. Joe Baca that would establish the holiday. "A day on for social justice, a day on for economic rights, a day on so everyone can learn the message of ‘Si Se Puede.’ "
"Si Se Puede," which means "Yes We Can," was the catchphrase Chavez used in organizing the United Farm Workers of America. Baca, Kucinich, and other backers of the Chavez holiday movement used it copiously at the press conference.
Baca observed that it took 14 years for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to be adopted, and noted that Chavez’ birthday is already a holiday in 10 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
"It is not a lost cause," said Baca, whose measure has support from 60 members of Congress, as well as presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. Celebrity backers of the holiday effort include rock star Carlos Santana and actors Martin Sheen and Edward James Olmos.
Organizers of the nationwide effort said rallies were held throughout the country on Monday to support the idea of establishing the new holiday. Rally sites included Cincinnati, Maui and Atlanta.
"We’ll be talking to people in communities throughout Ohio, for sure," Kucinich said.