O.C. Latinos Mourn Leader and Inspiration

Cesar Chavez, whose relentless pursuit of a better life for farm workers and the poor brought him to Orange County a number of times over the last three decades, became a source of strength and inspiration to those who admired him.

“I got chills in my body when I found out he died,” said Rueben Martinez, a political activist in Santa Ana.

Chavez’s death jolted Orange County and added further somberness to the Latino community still mourning the death of Mexican actor and comedian Mario Moreno --known as Cantinflas--four days ago.

“We just lost Cantinflas, now Chavez. This is truly a sad day for Latinos,” Martinez said. “I met Chavez when I went to Delano in the ‘60s to picket the stores during the grape boycotts. He was a very humble person. Every time I would see him on television, like the Johnny Carson show, he would go in his Levi’s, flannel shirt and boots.”

Martinez said he was inspired by Chavez and his philosophy of working through the system to achieve justice.

“I remember he would stand in his pickup truck and tell everyone that their demonstration was to be nonviolent,” Martinez said.

At different times from 1973 until 1990, Chavez organized boycotts and demonstrations in Orange County.

He led boycotts at Safeway stores and organized demonstrations to bring attention to the lack of health care, would advocate rent control and affordable housing in Santa Ana, sought labor rights for farm workers, and denounced voter apathy.

In 1985, Chavez and the United Farm Workers union protested against labor practices at a ranch in San Clemente. The dispute centered over the ranch operator’s failure to recognize and bargain with the UFW.

Chavez had planned to attend a fund-raiser for an Orange County Spanish-language newspaper in July. His last visit to the county was in June, 1991, for Msgr. John Coffield of Mission San Juan Capistrano’s 50th anniversary as a Roman Catholic priest.

Jesus Jimenez, a friend of Chavez now living in Anaheim, said there were numerous times in the grape boycott when Chavez put his philosophy of peaceful demonstrations to the ultimate test.

“I saw him several times get punched right in the face by the huge goons and he did not lift a finger,” said Jimenez who is a former resident of Delano, where Chavez had his UFW headquarters. “The guy who hit him just looked at him and was amazed Chavez wouldn’t do anything. He walked away puzzled.”

Jimenez called Chavez a modern-day Gandhi who truly believed in nonviolence in demonstrating for the rights of migrant farm workers and to improve conditions for the poor all over the United States.

“I grew up in the neighborhood and used to play with his kids,” Jimenez said. “I was 5 years old when I remember him putting his hand on my head and telling me I was going to have a better life. I never forgot that.”

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) said he first met Chavez while working as a reporter.

“I had my political differences with him but thought highly of his capabilities and for the philosophy he represented. There could not have been a better organizer and spokesman.

“I’m pleased I had a chance to say that about him. Now, I can say it,” Rohrabacher said.

Placentia Mayor Maria Moreno said she felt awful when told of Chavez’s death.

“I was looking forward to meeting him this July,” Moreno said. “I don’t know if I believe in heroes, but he is a person who inspired me.”

Moreno, who once worked as a strawberry picker during her teens in Orange County and lived in a packinghouse with her mother, said she knows firsthand about poor living conditions for farm workers.

“I remember needing water and asking the foreman where I could get some water, and he pointed toward muddy water on the ground,” Moreno said. “If it weren’t for Chavez, we would still have conditions like that for farm workers.”

Several activists in Orange County said that the Latino community will suffer a loss that may take years to recover from.

“He was a historical figure of tremendous proportions,” said Amin David, chairman of Los Amigos of Orange County, a group of Latino business owners. “I met Chavez many years ago when he was in a hunger strike. Robert Kennedy was there at the same time.”

David said Chavez was the only Latino leader known nationally and will be difficult to replace. David said Chavez had the ability to attract people to his cause regardless of their economic status.

“Rich or poor, Chavez appealed to everyone from the poor in Santa Ana to the rich in Hollywood,” David said. “He was a very humble man.”