The Latino Labor Movement in RI

Funded by the “Latino Americans: 500 Years of History” grant opportunity offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA), this forum will focus on Rhode Island Latino activism—from AmeriCorps VISTAs registering voters in the 1990s, to DREAMers of today.

The event will include a video created by PBS #LA500 series entitled “Prejudice and Pride,” focusing on the story of Cesar Chávez and the creation of the UFW. The film has particular resonance because Chávez visited Rhode Island in May of 1972. Today, Rhode Island is one of ten states to honor Chávez on his birthday: March 31st “César Chávez Day.”

The discussion panel will include labor historians, Latino activists and union members, and will revolve around these questions: Why did César Chávez come to Rhode Island? What was the state of labor in Rhode Island during the 1960s and how has it evolved since to include Latinos? Is civil disobedience a civic duty? Can any one individual make change? What makes a movement?

PANELISTS:
Mario Bueno, Executive Director, Progreso Latino
Heiny Maldonado, Executive Director, Fuerza Laboral
George Nee, President AFL-CIO

FACILITOR: Scott Malloy, Professor Labor History at URI

REMARKS: Marta V. Martínez, Executive Director of RI Latino Arts and Chair of the Cesar Chavez Scholarship Fund – Rhode Island