You are here

President Obama Expected To Designate César E. Chávez National Monument On October 8

Share

President Obama is expected to be in California next Monday to announce the establishment of the César E. Chávez National Monument.

The monument, which the president will designate through the authority bestowed by the Antiquities Act, "will be established on the property known as Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or La Paz," according to a release from the White House. "The La Paz property is recognized worldwide for its historic link to civil rights icon César Estrada Chávez and the farm worker movement. The site served as the national headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) as well as the home and workplace of César Chávez and his family from the early 1970s until Chávez’ death in 1993, and includes his grave site which will also be part of the monument."

“César Chávez gave a voice to poor and disenfranchised workers everywhere,” the president said in prepared remarks. “La Paz was at the center of some of the most significant civil rights moments in our nation’s history, and by designating it a national monument, Chávez’ legacy will be preserved and shared to inspire generations to come.”

From this rural headquarters in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County, California, Chávez played a central role in achieving basic worker protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers across the country, from provisions ensuring drinking water was provided to workers in the fields, to steps that helped limit workers’ exposure to dangerous pesticides, to helping to establish basic minimum wages and health care access for farm workers.

The National Chávez Center, in consultation with the United Farm Workers of America, the César Chávez Foundation and members of César Chávez’s family, offered to donate certain properties at La Paz to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a national monument commemorating César E. Chávez and the farmworker movement. This designation will represent the culmination of a process that has been under way for several years.

The César E. Chávez National Monument will encompass property that includes a Visitors’ Center containing César Chávez’s office as well as the UFW legal aid offices, the home of César and Helen Chávez, the Chávez Memorial Garden containing Chavez’s grave site, and additional buildings and structures at the La Paz campus.

The monument, which will be managed by the National Park Service in consultation with the National Chávez Center and the César Chávez Foundation, will be the fourth National Monument designated by President Obama using the Antiquities Act. He previously designated Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, a former Army post integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military; Fort Ord National Monument in California, a former military base that is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation; and Chimney Rock, which is located in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, and offers a spectacular landscape rich in history and Native American culture.

Comments

It is hard to sympathize with the cries of underfunding when we waste money on a monument for an anti-american socialist. But then its no surprise that an anti-american socialist would be doing the honoring.


Good. This is long overdue.


Muy bien! This is money well spent; I'll be sure to visit. (Hopefully I won't run into any seditious anon 8:33 types along the way.)


And this little spot in the road has significance to "parks" because? Take away all the things that are not truly a park or truly a historical building (as in D.C.) and you would then have the funds to handle what the National Park Service was all about to begin with.


Sorry anon 9:23, it was Cesar that was seditous. I am a strict constitutionalist.


SUCH a surprise that the people prattling about "anti American socialist" hide behind anonymity.


No matter what his beliefs were he had an impact on American history. THAT is what makes him National Monument worthy.


Obama is again pandering for Latino votes. What a waste of taxpayer money that could better spent.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.