Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cesar Chavez Day Recognition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students urge Tempe Union board to recognize Cesar Chavez Day
Summary
Multiple students told the Tempe Union Governing Board they want March 31 observed as Cesar Chavez Day, asking the district to make it a school holiday and an opportunity for education about farm-worker history and labor rights.
Multiple students and young community members used the public-comment period at the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board meeting to ask the district to recognize Cesar Chavez Day as a school holiday.
“Cesar Chavez Day to be a day off from school, not only to remember Cesar, but all the people who fought and died working in the farms,” said Viro Munoz, a sophomore at Mountain Pointe High School and vice president of the Hispanic Latino Student Union Club. Munoz said the day would “allow us to educate our communities on what he did” and to continue Chavez’s legacy.
Bianca Ibarra, who identified her involvement with her school’s Latino Student Union, told the board that the sacrifices of earlier farm-working generations shaped her family’s opportunities. “We should celebrate the rich, diverse history of Tempe Union students, staff, and faculty by recognizing such a Chavez Day as a holiday,” Ibarra said.
Other speakers included student representatives Max Aragon and Carly Villegas, who said recognizing March 31 would celebrate cultural pride and the contributions of farm workers and civil-rights activists. “The fight is never about the grapes or the lettuce, but the people,” Aragon quoted from Cesar Chavez-era rhetoric in urging recognition.
Liliana (Liliana) Walton also spoke in support, describing Chavez Day not as “a matter of entitlement” but “of celebration” and saying recognition would help Latino students “grow up to be the proud people we are.”
Board president Barraza explained the rules for public comment at the start of the period and later thanked speakers for their input. The board did not take immediate action on the request during the meeting; President Barraza noted that action arising from public comment is generally limited to directing staff to study the matter or scheduling it for future consideration.
Speakers cited neighboring districts that observe Cesar Chavez Day, including the Phoenix Union High School District, as precedents and argued the observance could support cultural education for students across the district.
The board did not vote on a resolution or policy regarding Cesar Chavez Day at this meeting. The superintendent was later asked to “look into” the topic, according to the meeting record.
