March 31 - Today in Legal History

March 31, 1927 - Cesar Chavez Born

Cesar Estrada Chavez is born near Yuma, Ariz. Chavez's family will eventually settle in San Jose, Calif., where local priest Father Donald McDonnell will introduce Chavez to the writings of St. Francis of Assisi and Mohandas Gandhi. In 1962, after working as a migrant farm worker, Chavez will establish the National Farm Workers Association, later the United Farm Workers, and win the right to collective bargaining in California for farm workers. He will campaign for farm workers' rights until his death in 1993.

Related Resources:

• Audio: State of the Unions (Justice Talking)
• Unions (FindLaw)
• The Story of Cesar Chavez (United Farm Workers)
• Cesar Chavez and United Farm Workers (FBI)