Dolores Huerta, co-founder of UFW union , endorses Dean

Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez Endorse Dean for President

BAKERSFIELD, CA--Dolores C. Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, M.D. today, citing his commitment to a grassroots campaign to change American politics. She was joined in her endorsement by her long-time companion, Richard Chavez.

"I have watched Governor Dean's campaign with great interest, and I am proud today to join the other 552,000 Americans who are uniting to take the country back from powerful special interests. I have worked my entire life to empower people and give them a sense of ownership, and so it is natural that I am joining Governor Dean's campaign because it is based around the ideal that the power to govern comes from the people. Everyday, his campaign is demonstrating how individuals can unite to effect change at the highest levels of government," Dolores Huerta said. "Howard Dean is the man to bring democracy and the people back into the White House and American politics."

"For over forty years, I have fought alongside American workers to improve their lives and support their families. I know that Howard Dean recognizes the importance of our fight and will stand alongside us-as he has throughout his political career," said Richard Chavez, brother of famed workers' rights leader Cesar Chavez.

Governor Dean responded, "I am deeply honored to be endorsed today by Dolores Huerta and Richard Chavez. They are preeminent leaders in America's civil rights and labor movements. Throughout Dolores's and Richard's lives, they have fought selflessly for America's workers and immigrants, and their efforts have resulted in some of the 20th century's most important advancements in farm workers' rights."
Huerta is now First Vice President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. She co-founded the UFW with Cesar Chavez in 1962, and together they organized the successful five-year boycott of California table grapes that resulted in the entire California industry signing a landmark three-year collective bargaining agreement with the UFW. Dolores is also remembered for coining the famous slogan, "Si se puede!" (Yes we can/It can be done!).

Dolores Huerta was also instrumental in lobbying for the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the first law of its kind in the U.S. that grants farm workers the right to collectively organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

At age 73, Ms. Huerta continues to be very active in social justice issues and politics, serving on the University of California Board of Regents and the boards of the Feminist Majority and People for the American Way. She also runs her own foundation.
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No minorities huh....

I give him major kudos for that. I hope he takes the concerns of La Raza to heart!

DTH

hearing Bush and Dean speaking Spanish in a debate. Dean knows the language, Bush will memorize something like, "Amo el alimento mejicano."

... Bush is fluent in Spanish. I remember him speaking it during 2000. It's one of his few skills.

Not much better than his English. I used to teach ESL English (to Spanish speaking immigrants) and the Mexican woman who was the head administrator used to cover her ears whenever Bush spoke spanish. I asked her if it was because he's a republican. She said "No, it's because he's murdering the language".

Laugh.

He isn't even fluent in English

Get ready for the contest to begin between D & C after Iowa. It will be a good one.

She was there the night he was shot.

She has a LOT of weight in the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.

Yee haw !

Dolores Huerta!

And they keep rolling in...

I have great respect for Dolores Huerta. She had stood up for working people and Latinos and other oppressed people throughout the years. I still remember hearing here speak out against the Reagan/Bush central America policies here in my hometown when I was still in elementary school!

This is a wonderful endorsement.

:thumbsup:

Great endorsement!

I've read about UFW.

:toast:

I have to admit, all these unions endorsing Dean is super impressive. If anything would make me vote for Dean, it would be these endorsements.

I think the unions that are endorsing Dean - AFSCME, SEIU - are the ones who can't have their jobs sent overseas, and they have less problem with supporting someone who did support NAFTA (although Dean is now saying the right things). The unions whose jobs are easily offshored are sticking with Gephardt because they don't trust Dean - and why should they?

Good endorsements, both of them!