Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) in 1962, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). He is most recognized for his efforts to secure better working conditions for farm laborers through nonviolent means such as boycotts, marches, and hunger strikes. In 1965, Chavez led the Delano grape strike, a pivotal event that resulted in a collective bargaining agreement for farm workers. In 1975, he played a crucial role in the passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the first law in the U.S. granting farm workers the right to unionize and bargain collectively. Chavez's work earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1994.