Come be a part of history on Saturday, Sept. 26—
join the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike
Among American civil rights milestones commemorated this year is the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike. The all-day celebration is being organized by the United Farm Workers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2016, just west of Delano at the farm workers’ “Forty Acres” complex, now a National Historic Landmark.
Five decades ago in September a union of heroic Filipino grape workers led by Larry Itliong and Pete Velasco walked out on strike in Delano-area vineyards and asked the mostly Latino union led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to join their picket lines. (The two unions merged in 1966, to form the UFW.) Thus began one of the epic multi-racial civil rights and labor struggles in U.S. history. These pioneers sacrificed everything—their livelihoods, cars and homes. Hundreds spread out to cities across North America to organize an international grape boycott. Millions rallied to La Causa by boycotting grapes. After five years of striking and boycotting, most grape growers signed union contracts in 1970, firmly establishing the UFW as the first enduring farm workers’ union in American history—a union that continues aggressively fighting for farm workers today.
Please come and be part of history. Join Delano grape strike and boycott veterans—plus many from younger generations they inspired—from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 for a day of ceremonies, programs, entertainment, exhibits, food and camaraderie—all at Forty Acres outside Delano where many of these historic events occurred.
—Hear the internationally renowned Teatro Campesino and Danny Valdez perform songs from the ’65 strike.
—Enjoy good food and entertainment.
—Visit historic exhibits, including photographs and button collections.
—Tour historic sites preserved at the Forty Acres honoring both Latino and Filipino strikers.
—See highlights of how the UFW and farm worker movement continue the legacy today.
After 50 years, this may be the last chance for many veterans of the Delano strike and boycott to gather. Don’t miss being a part of it.