---

Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) was a labor union organizer. When he was ten, his family lost their farm and were forced to become California migrant workers. In 1962, Chavez started the National Farm Workers Association. Four years later, it merged with another organization and became the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC). In the years that followed, Chavez organized two grape boycotts and a lettuce boycott because growers would not accept unions. In the meantime, the group changed its name to United Farmworkers of America. In the 1980's, UFW boycotted table grapes because of pesticide use. Even though violence was used during difficult moments, Chavez himself always promoted nonviolent solutions.

---