Dems mourn death of Cesar Chavez’s widow

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and other promiment Democrats on Tuesday mourned the death of Helen Chávez, the widow of renowned Latino and labor activist Cesar Chávez, who passed away Monday at age 88.

Chávez, a prominent activist in her own right, was born in 1928 to Mexican-immigrant farmers in California. She supported her husband’s fight with the United Farm Workers (UFW) against California grape growers in the 1960s to defend Hispanic farm workers’ migrant rights through civil disobedience and boycott.

{mosads}Clinton joined other prominent Democrats in eulogizing Chávez on Tuesday.

“Helen Chavez spent her entire life fighting for farmworkers to receive the fair wages and benefits that they deserve. Cesar and Helen’s determination and tirelessness in the face of countless obstacles helped countless workers who wanted nothing more than to be treated with respect and dignity to stand up and fight for their rights,” she said.

“Helen’s drive, her desire to see justice, her indomitable spirit, and above all her love guided Cesar through his years of activism, and her perseverance will never be forgotten. My heart and my prayers go out to the entire Chavez family during this difficult time.”

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said it would be “hard to understate” Chávez’s role “in the fight to secure basic rights and protections for migrant farm workers in America.”

“By all accounts, she was a quiet woman, but when she did speak publically, her words were powerful and wise,” Gallego said.

“Helen dedicated her life to the notion that every worker in our country deserves to be treated with fairness and dignity and I can think of no better tribute to her than to continue the fight for workers rights with Helen’s tireless strength and dedication. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.” 

Chávez had a discreet but powerful role alongside her husband in the UFW, serving as its bookkeeper and head of the credit union, and assisting in recruiting workers. 

She is survived by seven of the eight children she had with the iconic union leader.