Vanessa Gonzalez and Maria Rodriguez working on the UFW history Project. In addition to Vanessa and Maria, thanks to Pablo , Jose Diaz, Alba Cobian, Melissa Ayala, and Karen Kandamby who helped document the stories of the many farm workers who helped build the UFW.
ALEJANDRO CANO
ALEJANDRO CANO ESPECIAL PARA LA PRENSA
Publicado: 09 mayo 2012 10:11 AM
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – A cinco años de la muerte de Fernando Pedraza, el jornalero 
que paradójicamente encontró la muerte en la misma esquina en donde buscaba el pan de cada día, su espíritu combatiente continúa motivando y siendo ejemplo de inspiración en la lucha por la justicia social.
Pedraza, quien falleció el 5 de mayo del 2007 durante un accidente automovilístico mientras desafiaba a miembros del grupo Minuteman en la ciudad de Rancho Cucamonga, fue recordado el viernes 4 por familiares, amigos y jornaleros que como él solía hacer se reúnen en la esquina de las calles Grove y Arrow para buscar trabajo.
“Fernando no ha muerto, está entre nosotros. Fernando sigue en esta esquina y aunque no esté de cuerpo, su espíritu continúa entre nosotros motivándonos a salir adelante y a no bajar los brazos en la lucha”, indicó Bernardino Gutiérrez, amigo de Fernando y testigo del fatídico accidente.
La ceremonia contó con la participación de activistas y líderes comunitarios del Inland Empire, como el profesor retirado José Calderón, el padre católico retirado Patricio Guillén, Fernando Romero, coordinador de la Coalición para Justicia de los Inmigrantes del Sur de California, y Suzanne Foster, directora ejecutiva del Centro de Oportunidades Económicas de Pomona, entre otros.
Calderón instó a la comunidad a seguir el ejemplo de vida de Pedraza y a continuar luchando en contra de leyes antiinmigrantes, como la SB 1070 que “destruyen familias” y que solo “criminalizan” a los residentes indocumentados. El exprofesor de la Universidad Pitzer en Claremont no quita el dedo del renglón y exige al gobierno federal una reforma migratoria integral.
“Pero para que eso suceda hay que votar. Tenemos que ejercer el derecho”, indicó Calderón.
El padre Guillén elevó una plegaria al cielo para que los legisladores aprueben leyes humanitarias que protejan el bienestar de la comunidad migrante. Guillén recalcó que las autoridades locales tienen el deber de proteger a todo residente, incluyendo a los jornaleros que son vistos por gente antiinmigrante como un problema de estética y económico.
“Los derechos civiles son de rigor. Nadie debe violarlos y el gobierno debe trabajar para que se respeten. Así como Fernando luchó para que se respete esta esquina, así hay muchos hoy en día luchando por el respeto y dignidad. No olvidemos nunca su esfuerzo ni tampoco dejemos de luchar… juntos lograremos la victoria”, comentó Guillén.
La ceremonia fue organizada en su mayoría por la Coalición Fernando Pedraza, la cual está formada por líderes comunitarios, entre ellos Junko Ihrke y Marina Wood, maestra de inglés como segundo idioma en la esquina laboral, así como estudiantes de varias instituciones locales.
Pedraza, quien fue líder jornalero, murió al ser arrollado por un vehículo luego de que éste chocara con otro durante una manifestación entre jornaleros y personas que defienden los derechos del inmigrante y miembros del grupo Minuteman (hoy We the People), los cuales actúan como vigilantes en la frontera para, según ellos, reducir la inmigración ilegal.
Por su labor, líderes locales formaron una coalición en su nombre, la cual tiene como principal objetivo crear y mantener una relación entre los grupos locales para ayudar a los jornaleros en cuestión de educación y asistencia legal. Para crear una relación con la comunidad, la coalición ayuda a promover eventos caritativos en los que destaca el deporte.
Al concluir la ceremonia, los asistentes disfrutaron de ricas tortas de jamón y queso preparadas por la familia Pedraza, cuyos miembros agradecieron el gesto otorgado año tras año. El grupo Son Real amenizó la festividad con canciones que incluyen letras que exigen la justicia social, libertad y respeto.
Profe…thank you for all your great words of wisdom and inspiration! You have been a great mentor! I was so happy to see you and Rose yesterday…thank you for celebrating this special day with me!!!
Please sign this petition and help us stop the deportation of a community leader, Martín Yepez, who has always been with us in organizing around every major issue that our communities have faced in recent years. Click on this link to sign the petition.
[portfolio_slideshow id=735]
Jose and students singing during rally in support of the Dining Hall Workers
Story in the DailyBulletin.com
Pomona Pitzer student Beatriz Stambuk (center), 20, speaks to those gathered on Tuesday during a May Day rally. (Will Lester/Staff Photographer)
CLAREMONT – Pitzer College students braved the chilly weather Tuesday to join in the May Day events that popped up across the country.From noon to midnight students, professors and faculty members filtered in and out of the grassy hills that made up the designated rally area to talk about the struggles of labor and hear what passionate protestors had to say.
“We wanted a local event regarding May Day,” said Marc Lichterman, a 19-year-old freshman who helped organize the event. “My first instinct was to go to LA, but I wanted to focus on where I live.”
Speakers included Jose Calderon, emeritus professor of sociology and chicano and latino studies, and Dana Ward, a political studies professor, who talked about the struggles connected to the working class, gave the history of May Day and related it to present issues.May Day in the United States is a celebration of the labor movement, officials said. This year, a number of demonstrations, rallies and strikes were formed nationally to spotlight fair wages, the need for jobs and equality.
Those involved in the college rally called for students to skip classes as part of the May Day general strike. To allow students to participate, some professors canceled Tuesday classes.
“We want to raise awareness,” said Camille Matonis, another 19-year-old freshman organizer. “We want (students) to recognize there’s a problem with the system.”
While the rally at Pitzer paled in comparison to the national events, Lichterman said he was happy with their efforts.
“During the day we had a lot of really good conversations and discussions about the issue,” he said. “And that’s what I wanted.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Lori via email or call her at 909-483-9378.
May Day Presentation at May 1 rally in Claremont.
By Jose Calderon
Let me ask you: Are We United Today? Are we committed today? Are we willing to make a long-term commitment today?
Today, we commemorate Lucy Gonzalez and her husband Albert Parsons who fought for the eight hour day back in the 1880’s. They were examples of commitment – are we committed today?
It is important to understand that today is May day, a holiday that began in the 1880’s in the U. S. – and is now commemorated all over the world – but was purposely excluded in the U. S. by the powers that be – for what it represents – a day to commemorate working people internationally.. Are we united today?
This day is historic – and commemorates the fight for an eight-hour work day back in the 1880’s – commemorates the killing of strikers by the police in the Chicago McCormick Reaper Workers factory – commemorates the mass demonstrations of workers in Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest the killings of these strikers — and is a legacy for reflecting on the struggles and accomplishments of the people who pick our food, construct our houses, make our clothes.
It is a day to remember the 17 workers who were fired at Pomona College – many who had given of their labor for over 20 years – but were targeted — clearly – when the workers were in the process of organizing a union.
Brothers and Sisters, there is no better gift to meaning of May Day and all workers who have given of their lives. In this context, it is important to support the meaning of May day by supporting the efforts of the workers at Pomona College – and to raise our voices – to tell the Pomona College administration – shame on you for being one of the richest colleges in the nation, but, after using the labor of so many workers who have put food on our tables — you have used an old employer tactic of using a documentation check to fire workers who were only asking for a voice – for a right to have a vote without being intimidated – to be treated as human beings. On this day May Day, Pomona College – we call on you to practice the principles and values of this day – and get back to being the diverse, just, and dignified college that you profess to be. Brothers and Sisters – Are we making a commitment today?
Rather than an increase in narrow enforcement policies that are promoting wasted resources on militarizing our borders and compelling local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws – let us support the DREAM ACT which addresses the tragedy of young people who grew up in the U. S. and who have graduated from U. S. high schools but who, because of current immigration laws, have no mechanism for obtaining in-state tuition in the institutions of higher education and who have no way of obtaining legal residency. Are we committed to our AB-540 students today?
Let us support efforts that will allow immigrant workers the right to work here and receive legalization rights that will lead to permanent residency and citizenship. This means Genuine legalization proposals to adjust the status for all undocumented immigrants where they can be treated as full human beings — with no expansion of temporary guest worker programs and with labor law protections. Are we committed to stopping the scapegoating of our immigrant brothers and sisters and uniting all that can be united today?
In recent months, our organizing efforts of broad coalitions have been effective in this state by challenging the federal government’s immigration enforcement policies by organizing and passing legislation allowing undocumented students, not only to go to college, but to receive financial aid. We took on the use of checkpoints in the city of Pomona to discriminate against undocumented and forced the city to first make changes in its checkpoint policies – but eventually were part of a movement that resulted in the Governor signing a bill that allows anyone stopped at a checkpoint without a driver’s license to have someone come and pick up their car. This will kill the millions of dollars being made by the tow truck and impoundment companies. The governor, as a result of these movements, also signed a bill that called for neither California nor any of its cities, counties, or special districts –use E-Verify — because of its proven record of mistakes in particularly raciallly profiling our Mexican/Latino communities. Now, we are also gathering signatures to enact a new law that gives qualified undocumented immigrants who pay state income taxes the option to enter a program whose participants will gain relief from federal enforcement and whose labor will be decriminalized.
In the tradition of May Day, let us not be divided. Let us reward immigrant workers for all the contributions that they have made and are making. Most of all, let’s unite all that can be united and redefine Capitalism’s definition of “growth” as a basis for gauging whether there is progress.
Let us build examples of “systemic change” where the resources are used for a new type of growth that is rooted in creating a better quality of life for all – institutions and social enterprises that use the resources produced by workers for serving just and equitable community-building goals.
Once again, Let me ask you: Let me ask you: Are We United Today? Are we committed today? Are we willing to make a long-term commitment to unite all that can be united?
Si Se Puede! Si Se Puede!