Feb. 22, 2001
UFW to endorse Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor

United Farm Workers members and supporters from throughout Los Angeles will gather at the UFW’s East Los Angeles office to watch President Arturo Rodriguez throw the union’s support behind Antonio Villaraigosa for mayor.
 
“Political leadership in the city of Los Angeles has always been important to the United Farm Workers, and Antonio Villaraigosa is the best candidate,” Rodriguez said.  “Antonio is a leader who has stood with working people.”

 
Who:  UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez, Mayoral Candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, actor Ed Begley Jr., Rabbi Steven Jacobs from Woodland Hill’s Temple Kol Tikvah, UFW members and local supporters.
 
When: 10 am on Thursday, February 22, 2001.
 
Where:  UFW’s East Los Angeles office, 5313 East Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90022 (2 blocks east of Atlantic Blvd.).

 
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Statement by Arturo S Rodriguez President, United Farm Workers Thursday, February 22, 2001 Endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor

  
Political leadership in the city of Los Angeles has always been important to the United Farm Workers.  The UFW actively participates in campaigns for candidates who support the issues that are key to improving the lives of farm workers, as well as the issues that effect Latinos living in our urban centers–education, worker’s rights, immigrants rights, health care and the protection of human rights.
 
Antonio Villaraigosa is the best candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles.  Antonio is a leader who has stood with working people.   He is a proven coalition builder who can bring together people of all races, nationalities, and economic classes to solve our cities problems.
 
Antonio has always fought for the rights of farm workers.  As a 15 year-old high school student, Antonio volunteered on the first grape boycott initiated by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.  As a union organizer Antonio supported the efforts of farm workers throughout the state.  As an Assembly member, Antonio joined us in the fight for strawberry workers in Watsonville.
 
Antonio wrote laws to improve health care for our children, to expand educational opportunities, to protect workers from the dangers of pesticides, and to improve conditions for all workers.  After a tragic van accident resulted in the death of 13 farm laborers, Antonio pushed landmark legislation to enforce the use of seatbelts by labor contractors.
 
We are here to call the thousands of our friends who have supported Cesar Chavez’ movement here in Los Angeles to help us to walk precincts, make phone calls, and do all we can to help elect someone who has stood with us and embraced the legacy of Cesar Chavez–the next Mayor of Los Angeles–Antonio Villaraigosa.
 

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