Obama calls on Americans to fulfill Cesar Chavez' promise

President Obama, accompanied by Cesar Chavez' widow, Helen F. Chavez, places a special "Cesar Chavez" red rose at the gravesite where Cesar E. Chavez was laid to rest in 1993, as he tours the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument Memorial Garden, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, in Keene, Calif.

/ AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

In remarks designating the Cesar Chavez National Monument in Keene, California, President Obama on Monday honored the memory of the late labor icon and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, praising his longtime activism on behalf of farm workers and calling on Americans to "fulfill [his] promise."

Mr. Obama touched on familiar themes of equal opportunity and economic hardship throughout his remarks, but largely steered clear of politics. He spoke with Chavez's widow and laid a rose at the newly-minted monument prior to his speech.

"We are making progress," the president told the crowd, which interrupted him at one point with a chant of "Four more years!" "Our businesses are creating more jobs. More Americans are getting back to work. And even though we have a difficult road ahead, I know we can keep moving forward together."

He continued: "I know it because Cesar Chavez himself worked for 20 years as an organizer without a single major victory... but he refused to give up. He refused to scale back his dreams. He just kept fasting and marching and speaking out, confident that his day would come. And when it finally did, he still wasn't satisfied."

The president urged the crowd not only to honor Chavez's memory but to "live up to his example" as well.

"Every time somebody's son or daughter comes and learns about the history of this movement, I want them to know that our journey is never over -- our work is never done," he said. "More than anything that's what I hope our children and grandchildren will take away from this place."

[bhabing]

We should all wish we were able to dream big and go big. with "going big" never the motivation, the driving force being concern for someone other than me. The real truth is that by name calling and negitive comments we will never be the men and women that actually leave more than they take. Do as much as they say and might even be who they pretend to be. No matter what we think a great man did, good or bad, great men are still great men. the dude went to the wall, knowing it would cost him, but still worth the risk.

[walkthetalk]

If we don't get some Serious Stinkin Relief, from this Dear Leader Maroon, we will all be using North Korean Food Stamps and eaten U.N.rice. I really Think! that's what this Dip Stick wants, Feed the People and you Control the People. This Guy Really Scares me, and i don't Scare Easy.

[tryingtodogoodwork]

Mr. Chavez was an enormously brave and wise man. It's fitting that he's now been honored by the best U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (I've just returned from a trip throughout Europe and was stunned how often I was asked to explain why Americans don't understand how very fine a prez Mr. Obama is.)

Please vote for fairness, equality, cultural furtherance.

President Obama, 2012!!!!!!!! (eight exclamation points, eight entirely deserved years in office)

Hillary, 2016!!!!!!!!

[walkthetalk]

We as Americans don't like Bankruptcy, take back to Europe. His Government Free Stuff! Stupid Plan,is killing the few Taxpayer workers that are left. GO Live in EARP! OH! And Please! See if he can't go with.

[caligirlabc]

The first Farm Worker's activists in California were Filipino. The Mexicans came many years later. Where is their monument?

[Zprman]

Dont be ignorant, this is not about countries, races, colors, this is about a person who influenced in a good way a lot of people. Filiipinos were a big part of Cesar's movements, Richard RIP, his brother even told me about it.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

MicahStone says:A FACT that the OBOZO camapign and it's stooges in the socialist media will NEVER tell you: Cesar Chavez was 100%, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY, ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY against ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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For most of Chavez's career, the US had the bracero program in place. It no longer exists. I wonder what Chavez's take would be in the absence of the program.....

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

repubs pass laws in various states attempting to deny Hispanics their constitutional rights and Obama puts up a statue to Cesar Chavez.

Says a lot.....

[romcfi9]

Illegals have lowered the pay scale for the true Americans. Our USA is being made into a 3rd world country just like Obama promised in his speech at the Berlin Wall when he said that the walls between the rich countries and the poor countries must come down. Obama is making us poor.

[retmw1]

Seems the chamber of commerce supports illegal labor and lower pay scales, They sure don't support the workers.

[bhabing]

The people on wall Street have ripped us off, and they are getting ready for their next move, in an empire I don't think you will find the poor oppressing the middle class. It comes from the top, the few. Untill we see this as a social issue, and do as democracy does talk about it get the truth and reach consensus, there is no change. We the people must decide where we go from here. We may be to busy tearing stuff up like, each other, to be involved in the process.

[robtemery]

I personally knew Cesar in the 60s when he formed the UFW. What is ironic is the FACT he was against Illegals because they represented a source of labor for farmers to circumvent his union organizing efforts

[tb91006]

You are absolutely correct which means he would not have supported or wanted Obama to talk on his behalf.