Cesar Estrada Chávez (1927-1993) was a Mexican-American labor leader, community organizer, businessman, and civil rights activist. He co-founded, with Dolores Huerta, the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union. Chavez advocated for the use of direct but nonviolent actions, such as pickets and boycotts, to pressure farm owners to grant striking workers’ demands. Chavez notably organized the Delano, California grape strike of 1965-1970, and later worked to expand the UFW influence beyond California. In the 1980s, Chavez focused on anti-pesticide campaigns, calling for boycotts of California-grown table grapes grown with pesticides.

In December 1969, Cesar Chavez spoke at a rally in his honor at Garfield High School. He pushed for support of the ongoing boycott of California and Arizona table grapes to force farm owners to provide better wages and working conditions for their employees. Earlier that day, Chavez led a picket outside the University District Safeway store, and was made a First Citizen of Seattle by Mayor Wes Uhlman. Here, Chavez stands behind a lectern in the Garfield gymansium, with Mayor Uhlman, far left, and an unidentified local activist. Behind him hangs the banner of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee and a sign reading "Viva Chavez."

Caption information source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 20, 1969, p. 1
Caption information source: "'End of Grapes of Wrath' begins with Farm Union," Seattle Post-Intellignecer, December 20, 1969, p. 6