Hispanics of Today help in effort to create national holiday

Despite the tempermental weather, the student organization Hispanics of Today will be out this week taking part in a national movement to recognize a hero in Latino history.

March 31 is the birthdate of the late Cesar Estrada Chavez, a civil rights leader who crusaded for nonviolent social change. As a humanitarian, he inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice for the poor and disenfranchised. Noted by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy as “one of the heroic figures of our time,” Chavez was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.

For weeks, groups across the U.S. have been petitioning for signatures to encourage President Bush to declare March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. The PSU HOT group selected this week to collect signatures, and will be out on the Oval (or the Student Center in case of rain) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day to gain support. They plan to send in their collected signatures at the end of the week.

Group members say they know seeking a new national holiday is no easy task, but that they’re willing to do their part.

“We are trying to build awareness in this community about this very historical figure not many know about,” said Cindy Perez, president of HOT.

For details, contact Perez at 913-375-8428. For more information on Chavez, check out http://www.chavezfoundation.org/.

---Pitt State---