Governor Baldacci Attends Celebration for Cesar Chavez

Press Release

Governor Baldacci joined John Connors of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and others this afternoon to honor the late Cesar Chavez.

"His values, words and actions continue to serve as a guide to effective participation in public life," Governor Baldacci said.

Chavez was a Mexican-American farm worker, labor leader and activist who founded what eventually became the United Farm Workers. Chavez died in 1993. He would have turned 80 years old Saturday.

"What better way to celebrate an individual so integral to the labor movement than to offer up a plan that will bring good jobs with good benefits to the state," Baldacci said. "I recently proposed a $397 million bond package that includes $131 million for Maine's innovation economy, for job growth and business development. I urge you all to support it and support the expansion of Maine's workforce."

The 4th annual celebration drew representatives from the Department of Labor, the Maine AFL-CIO and the Maine League of United Latin American Citizens Council 3100.

"Chavez's commitment to community activism and volunteerism, fairness and non-violent protest was a model that should guide us today as it did in the decades when he championed the cause of the worker," said Governor Baldacci. "As more and more groups remember Cesar E. Chavez, they honor him by their actions and by giving back to others."

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