Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Presidential Documents 18895 

Proclamation 8786 of March 23, 2012 

Cesar Chavez Day, 2012 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

One of our Nation’s great civil rights leaders, Cesar Estrada Chavez came 

of age as a migrant farm worker, witnessing the injustice that pervaded 

fields and vineyards across California. Facing discrimination, poverty, and 

dangerous working conditions, laborers toiled for little pay and without 

access to even the most basic necessities. Yet amidst hardship and abuse, 

Cesar Chavez saw the promise of change—the unlimited potential of a community organized around a common purpose. Today, we celebrate his courage, reflect on his lifetime of advocacy, and recognize the power in each 

of us to lift up lives and pursue social justice. 

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other visionary 

leaders, Cesar Chavez based his campaign on principles of nonviolence, 

which he called ‘‘the quality of the heart.’’ Through boycotts, fasts, strikes, 

and marches that demanded both endurance and imagination, he drew thousands together in support of ‘‘La Causa’’—a mission to ensure respect, dignity, 

and fair treatment for farm workers. Alongside Dolores Huerta, he founded 

the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), an organization tasked with 

defending and empowering the men and women who feed the world. 

As a tribute to Cesar Chavez’s life and work, my Administration designated 

the Forty Acres site in Delano, California, as a National Historical Landmark 

last year, forever commemorating the birthplace of the UFW. In May 2011, 

the United States Navy named the USNS Cesar Chavez in recognition of 

his service during World War II. And this month, we honor ten Americans 

as Champions of Change for their commitment to realizing Cesar Chavez’s 

dream of a more just tomorrow. Decades after his struggle began, Cesar 

Chavez’s legacy lives on in all who draw inspiration from the values of 

service, determination, and community that ignited his movement. 

On the 85th anniversary of Cesar Chavez’s birth, we are reminded of what 

we can accomplish when we recognize our common humanity. He told 

us, ‘‘We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress 

and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough 

to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for 

our own.’’ As we honor his broad ambitions and expansive vision, let 

us pledge to stand forever on the side of equal opportunity and justice 

for all. 


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18896 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Presidential Documents 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2012, 

as Cesar Chavez Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with 

appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor Cesar 

Chavez’s enduring legacy. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third 

day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtysixth. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7639 

Filed 3–27–12; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F2–P 


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