Conflicting Views
Although protests reached vast audiences, the UFW faced bitter opposition from "powerful agricultural landholders and their economic allies." Commercial dominance of farming corporations gained the allegiance of local businesses in attempt to resist the echoing cry for unionization.
Proponents
"We seek the support of all political groups and protection of the government, which is also our government, in our struggle. For too many years we have been treated as the lowest of the low. Our wages and working conditions have been determined from above, because irresponsible legislators who could have helped us, have supported the rancher argument..."
~Plan of Delano, UFW
~Plan of Delano, UFW
The campaign served as an inspiration to thousands of Americans and caused affiliate organizations seeking labor reformation to join the movement. Farm workers drew support from Senator Robert Kennedy who, despite initial doubts, grew to become the union's greatest advocate for change.
Opponents
As tension accumulated, growers feared increases in economic losses. Inexpensive labor provided a strong cushion for agricultural businesses through profit accrual, and many believed new labor rights would limit personal monetary gain. Farming companies formed a major political lobby, turning President Nixon and Governor Reagan against the UFW.
"As in the past, agribusiness mobilized their extensive resources to thwart the union campaign... [and] resorted to their conventional tactics of evicting strikers from their labor camps."
~Eric Arnesen, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences "This social, political boycott effort...closed Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto completely from handling table grapes."
~Lionel Steinberg, California grower |
"Deputy Marshall advised that these subjects were chanting, 'Huelga, huelga, huelga' in a loud voice... I finally read, 'To those gathered on the locale of this scene, this is Deputy Dodd, a Peace Officer in and for the County of Kern. I hereby declare this to be an unlawful assembly and I command you in the name of the People of the State of California to immediately disperse. If you refuse to leave the area immediately you will be arrested.' The three picket captains were notified in person that this had been declared an unlawful assembly and were commanded to disperse, they refused, they were arrested."
~Deputy Gerald Dodd of Kern County, revealing local government opposition View Chronology of Violence Against UFW in Kern County |
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"I saw the police had a young girl face down on the ground. One cop had his good on the girl's back and was pulling her arms up. She was crying and begging to be let up. Frank Valenzuela and I asked to talk to the girl and told the cops not to treat her that way.
The only response we got was that we were sprayed with mace. I saw them swinging at Frank. They were holding him face down on the hood of a car and kept hitting him again and again with a nightstick on his legs and head." ~"Frank Quintanilla, International Representative from AFSCME [American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees]" |