Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden to Commemorate César Chavez Day at The Forty Acres
Delano, California
Thank you.
Connie, I look forward to sharing your story with my students – how community college can be the beginning of a fulfilling career. Thank you for your work.
To the Chavez family: thank you for your warm welcome. Service like yours means sacrifices. Thank you, and may your memories of Cesar today, and always, be your blessing.
Buenas tardes!
César Chavez is such an inspiration to so many of us — and especially to my husband.
In fact, when the President—Joe—was making selections for the Oval Office, he asked for a bust of César to be placed near his desk as a reminder of the man and his work. In his proclamation for Cesar Chavez Day, the President wrote:
“He fasted. He marched. He organized. He stayed true to his convictions, and brought hope to millions for whom hope had often seemed too far away.”
With hope in my heart, it’s a great honor to be here to celebrate with those who knew and loved Cesar.
Dolores, once again, we’re together. Joe and I were so excited to help you celebrate your 90th birthday—even though we had to do it virtually.
You continue to be a courageous leader in this movement, and through your example, call on us all to keep working for change.
Supervisor Solis—our dear friend, Hilda—I’m so glad you could join us in person, especially after all those virtual events together.
You continue to serve Los Angeles, California, and our country faithfully. The President and I are behind you today, and always.
Governor Newsom and Jennifer, thank you for being here as well.
Gavin, from combatting COVID and climate change, to ensuring our essential workers and farm workers have the support they need—thank you for all you do.
This year, César Chavez Day falls halfway between Palm Sunday and Easter.
Holy Week reminds us to embrace hope, even in the depths of despair—and teaches us that, with faith and love, all things are possible.
For César, faith and love were at the heart of his action: hunger strikes, boycotts, the fight for civil rights.
The United Farm Workers wasn’t only fighting for better wages.
It has always been a moral movement – one of justice and humanity for all, but especially for the agricultural workers who are mostly unseen.
Cesar Chavez understood that, no matter the obstacles, when people come together, united in cause, anything is possible.
Yes, we can—sí, se puede!
Over this last year of pandemic, we’ve faced unparalleled challenges—and they are still with us.
But we’ve also been inspired by the kind of sacrifice and service to one another that Chavez believed could transform our country.
As millions of Americans were isolated at home, we depended on those who kept going in to work, every single day.
Without the farm workers who kept harvesting our food—or the factory workers who packaged it, the grocery store clerks who stocked shelves—no one would have made it through this year.
Even in our darkest times, we can and must find hope in each other.
Today, the legacy of César Chavez lives on in so many ways: Through the UFW, the Chavez Foundation, and the generations of activists who are moved to continue building a more just future for everyone.
And through my husband, who began his political career inspired by the Civil Rights movement.
As President, Joe is fighting for those who often go unseen.
He believes that our work must always be guided by justice and humanity.
And that’s exactly the kind of immigration policy he’s working to build—one that treats children and families with dignity and creates fair pathways to citizenship, including for essential workers.
And we’re encouraged that, with UFW’s work—your work—the US House of Representatives has already passed the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
This is a great first step.
And, together, we’re going to get this done.
Si se puede!
I’m here today because the President and I want you to know that we stand with you.
And we are grateful for all that you’re doing to answer the call to service—volunteering your time to help vaccinate your community, right here at The 40 Acres.
Making sure that your neighbors are safe from COVID. Working to keep all of us healthy.
Every person who is protected makes our cities and towns safer.
That’s why Pope Francis called getting vaccinated a moral obligation. Every one of us has a part to play.
For ourselves, for our families, and for those we don’t even know.
Together, we will heal.
In a speech to the Commonwealth Club of California, Cesar talked about the many reasons farmworkers had to be pessimistic.
“Yet,” he told the crowd, “we are filled with hope and encouragement. We have looked into the future and the future is ours!”
Cesar dared to believe that our country could change—that we could change it. Now, it’s on us to live up to that promise.
When we come together, we are powerful.
With love for our communities, with hope for our future, with faith in each other, anything is possible.
Sí, se puede!
The future is ours.
Thank you.
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