Caesar Chavez

Born March 31, 1927, Yuma, Arizona, U.S.—died April 23, 1993

Cesar Chavez was a Latino civil rights activist and farm labor leader, a champion of nonviolent social change, and a crusader for the environment and consumer rights.

Through marches, strikes and boycotts, Chávez forced employers to pay adequate wages and provide benefits for employees. He was responsible for legislation enacting the first Bill of Rights for agricultural workers. In recognition of his nonviolent activism and support of working people, Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1994.