Dolores Huerta

Well, actually, in Arizona, they had passed a law that if farm workers went on strike or anyone said boycott anything, you could go to prison. Imagine. Yeah, and we were working to try to overturn that law. So Cesar had done a 25-day water-only fast. He did not eat anything. just to consume water and Holy Communion for 25 days.

And as I was speaking to some of the professional people in Arizona, asking them to support us to overturn that law, they said to me, in Arizona, you can't do any of that. In California, you can. And my response to them was, si se puede, which means yes, we can in Arizona. When I reported that back to our rally that evening, Everyone jumped to their feet and they said, si se puede, si se puede.

And as I was speaking to some of the professional people in Arizona, asking them to support us to overturn that law, they said to me, in Arizona, you can't do any of that. In California, you can. And my response to them was, si se puede, which means yes, we can in Arizona. When I reported that back to our rally that evening, Everyone jumped to their feet and they said, si se puede, si se puede.

And so that's how it was born. It came from the universe.

And so that's how it was born. It came from the universe.

As a result of the international boycott of California table grapes, it resulted in farm workers having bathrooms, toilets in the fields, cold drinking water, rest periods, things that they never had, hand-washing facilities, the right to have a union, the right to have a health plan. under the union, so many things that they, just basic human rights that farm workers did not have.

As a result of the international boycott of California table grapes, it resulted in farm workers having bathrooms, toilets in the fields, cold drinking water, rest periods, things that they never had, hand-washing facilities, the right to have a union, the right to have a health plan. under the union, so many things that they, just basic human rights that farm workers did not have.

Of course, with the union, they were able to get unemployment insurance, pensions, etc., health care. But they did not have this, and it was that simple act. And you contributed to that, Julia. By not eating, by not buying those grapes, you contributed to that, and so did the 17 million Americans that didn't buy grapes.

Of course, with the union, they were able to get unemployment insurance, pensions, etc., health care. But they did not have this, and it was that simple act. And you contributed to that, Julia. By not eating, by not buying those grapes, you contributed to that, and so did the 17 million Americans that didn't buy grapes.

And this is what we have to learn, that if all of us work together, that we know that we can make it happen, that we have that power as people. Do you have any specific negotiating tactics, Dolores? Well, as a negotiator— I was a go-between between the farmworkers and the employers. And you're pretty much a translator. But the main thing I think is you have to give reasons why you need something.

And this is what we have to learn, that if all of us work together, that we know that we can make it happen, that we have that power as people. Do you have any specific negotiating tactics, Dolores? Well, as a negotiator— I was a go-between between the farmworkers and the employers. And you're pretty much a translator. But the main thing I think is you have to give reasons why you need something.

I'll give you an example. Please. To try to get the cold drinking water for the farmworkers, the growers would say, oh, we put a cup of water out there and it would sit in the hot sun all day long. And the workers had to drink from one cup. All of the crew had to drink out of one cup. Well, that is not sanitary.

I'll give you an example. Please. To try to get the cold drinking water for the farmworkers, the growers would say, oh, we put a cup of water out there and it would sit in the hot sun all day long. And the workers had to drink from one cup. All of the crew had to drink out of one cup. Well, that is not sanitary.

So giving people or the employers, giving them the rationale, the reasons and explain to them why things have to change. Because a lot of that is just racism. It's discrimination. It's making people feel belittled, like they're not worthy.

So giving people or the employers, giving them the rationale, the reasons and explain to them why things have to change. Because a lot of that is just racism. It's discrimination. It's making people feel belittled, like they're not worthy.

Exactly. Can you imagine for the women? Do you know what it was like for women to be out there in the field without a toilet? No. They did not have bathrooms and that food is coming directly to your table. Right. It doesn't go through a car wash. Right.

Exactly. Can you imagine for the women? Do you know what it was like for women to be out there in the field without a toilet? No. They did not have bathrooms and that food is coming directly to your table. Right. It doesn't go through a car wash. Right.

But right now throughout the whole United States of America, not just in California, in Illinois, in New York and Georgia, farm workers have the right to have a bathroom, a rest period, hand washing facilities and cold drinking water. And health care, I'm hoping? Oh, health care. Well, it depends on what state you live in.

But right now throughout the whole United States of America, not just in California, in Illinois, in New York and Georgia, farm workers have the right to have a bathroom, a rest period, hand washing facilities and cold drinking water. And health care, I'm hoping? Oh, health care. Well, it depends on what state you live in.

If you live in California, yes, in California, even undocumented people here have health care.