SENATE RESOLUTION

8641

BySenator Saldaña

WHEREAS, On October 25, 1913, Larry Itliong was born in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, which was a territory of the United States at that time; and

WHEREAS, At 15 years of age, Larry immigrated to the United States and despite only receiving formal education up to the sixth grade, taught himself about law and soon became involved in political and labor organizing; and

WHEREAS, Larry became a farmworker and worked in canneries and agricultural fields across the country, putting labor organizing lessons into practice; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Larry Itliong led the "Great Delano Grape Strike" as a means to protest the working conditions of agricultural workers, specifically highlighting their low wages and physically detrimental working environment, a strike that set the stage for a civil rights struggle and a movement to achieve justice for farmworkers; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, Larry Itliong led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, which merged with the National Farm Workers Association led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, thereby creating the United Farm Workers Union — a union that organized marches, national consumer boycotts, and fasts, which attracted national headlines, gained labor contracts with higher wages, and improved working conditions for thousands of agricultural workers; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, Larry Itliong founded and became the president of the Filipino American Political Association, the first national political Filipino American organization in the country; and

WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and the United Farm Workers continue to inspire farmworkers in Washington state to organize and advocate for a more just world;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington state Senate recognize and celebrate the historical contributions of individuals like Larry Itliong in our efforts to achieve a more equitable, just, and fair labor and economic system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington state Senate encourage the people of Washington state to celebrate the countless social, political, economic, and cultural contributions Filipino Americans have established in Washington state and across the country.