1965
On September 8th, 1965 the strikes officially began. Larry Itliong led his fellow Filipinos and walked out on strike against the grape growers.
Larry Itliong approached Cesar Chavez on September 16th 1965, and joined forces in protesting. Chavez and Itliong had now united the Mexicans and Filipinos into one strike union, and now focused their efforts on other forms of protesting. The farm owners beat the farmers brutally and cut off access to water and food. The immigrants wanted to retaliate, but Chavez maintained nonviolence, as he was a peace believer and wanted to remain pacifist. |
Janos, Adam. “An Image of Protesters Holding up Huelga(Strike) Signs.” When Millions of Americans Stopped Eating Grapes in Support of Farm Workers, 6 May 2019, https://www.history.com/news/delano-grape-strike-united-farm-workers-filipinos.
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"There is no such thing as defeat in non-violence [and] in some cases non-violence requires more militancy than violence"
~ Cesar Chavez, leader of the Mexicans during the strikes.
~ Cesar Chavez, leader of the Mexicans during the strikes.
1966
London, Eric. “The March to Sacramento from Delano.” Fifty Years since the Delano to Sacramento March: The Myth of Cesar Chavez and the Collapse of the United Farm Workers, 11 Apr. 2016, https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/04/11/ufw1-a11.html.
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On March 17th 1966,the walk from Delano to Sacramento occurred to protest outside the capital. This march was the first instance in which the Delano Grape strikes made national new.
In August of 1966, the UFW (United Farm Workers) was formed by combining various unions and organizations that all worked for farmer's rights. The UFW advocated for equal rights and its presence was much stronger, since all immigrants fighting for reforms were present. Techniques used to protest were boycotting and picketing. |
1967
In late 1967, after a whole year of protesting and trying to spread awareness, the first contract was signed between farmers and a major company. This was a huge breakthrough for the UFW and it gave them motivation to continue. They had proof that these strikes worked, and would not stop at anything to get what they wanted.
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Zermeno, Andy. “A Cartoon Depicting a White Woman Buying UFW Approved Grapes.” Farmworker Movement Online Gallery, 10 Apr. 2014, https://libraries.ucsd.edu/farmworkermovement/gallery/index.php?cat=66.
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1968
Tye, Larry. “Cesar Chavez in the Middle of the Fast.” RFK, Cesar Chavez and Unfinished Business, 11 Aug. 2016, https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article94893182.html.
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By 1968, major contracts had been signed with 10 different grape growers that increased workers rights had been signed.
In February to March 1968, Chavez went on a fast for 25 days with no food to gain more national attention for the strikes. He put himself into critical condition, just for the strike. |
1969
Almost 4 million dollars worth of grapes were lost in 1969 by corporations that had scoffed at these strikes. Commercials were spread all over the United States, and workers went on tours across the country to spread information of the strike.
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“Propoganda Used by the UFW.” A NAACP Flyer Calling for Support for the Grape Boycott, 1965., UC Berkeley, 27 Dec. 2016, https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-united-farm-workers-and-the-delano-grape-strike/sources/1316.
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1970
Morehouse, Lisa. “Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez after the Strikes.” Grapes Of Wrath: The Forgotten Filipinos Who Led A Farmworker Revolution, 19 Sept. 2015, https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/09/16/440861458/grapes-of-wrath-the-forgotten-filipinos-who-led-a-farmworker-revolution.
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In July 1970, the strikes finally ended, after 5 years of endless protesting and boycotting, and 26 labor contracts were signed with major grape companies. Many Filipinos and Mexican-Americans were done and returned back to the farms and signed with the now reformed companies. The strikes had for the most part ended, but boycotts were kept in place to pressure other industries until 1975.
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