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César Chávez was born on March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. He spent his early years at a farm where his mother worked as a part-time laborer. During the Great Depression, his family lost their homestead to foreclosure and moved to California.

Soon after, he dropped out of school and began working in the fields with his family. In 1946, he joined the navy and served for two years. After his discharge, he returned to California, got married, and began working in the fields near Delano.

Chávez became an influential community organizer and joined hands with Dolores Huerta. Together, they founded the National Farm Workers Association.

He spent the following years of his life involved in regular protests, strikes, and participating in labor uprisings throughout the country. Inspired by Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, he led hundreds of sit-in protests and hunger strikes.

Chávez died in 1993 and later that year, President Bill Clinton posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama proclaimed the first Ceasar Chávez Day in 2014.

Summarized from: National Day. https://nationaltoday.com/cesar-chavez-day/