Carolina Holguin, a 74 year old retired farm worker says: "I worked with Cesar. And now I am here to continue Cesar's work. I am very happy to be here to support the Union. I worked in the fields before Cesar came along and we suffered a lot because there were no bathrooms, no water, we would go to work in the fields and we would have to carry our own water and food because we did not get a lunch break. We ate while we continued to work? I have been organizing in the fields, in the marches and in helping any way that I can because I have very happy with the work we are doing as I feel Cesar in my heart."

Eriberto Fernandez, a 19 yr-old Bakersfield College sophomore said, “My parents immigrated to the US in 1986, and have been working in the grape industry ever since, always working for minimum wage. Their experience made me look at the world differently: I’ve seen firsthand how exploitive companies can be, how much they harm a family economically. (During our organizing here), I’ve been surprised how quickly the growers reacted to our presence on their land. Change the world, that’s my plan! That’s why I’m here!”

Virginia Nesmith, Director of the National Farm Worker Ministry came from Saint Louis, MO to help because, "It’s important to stand with the workers who are fighting for better wages and better treatment at work. Scripture calls for us to stand with the poor so as workers stand up for their rights it’s important for us to be there with them."

 Jim Korbel, a retired Job Training Manager from San Jose, said, "I'm here because it's an excellent way to bring people back into the movement and make people realize that this movement symbolizes not only the struggle of the farm workers, but of all disenfranchised people."
 

Esperanza Ross, a Sacramento Legislative Advocate came because: "Farm workers deserve to be recognized and we can do this by meeting with them and understanding their struggle and then acting."

Elvia Montero, 41, Atlantic City, shop steward, Unite HERE, Local 54. This is her first time in California. “I came for once reason – to help people in the fields. I’ve never seen people working with no shade, no insurance, bad salaries. I like the animo here – I’m fighting for the rights, I never stop, never get down!”

Felix Perez, 34, Pleasantville, NJ, Unite HERE, Local 54. This is his first time in California. “I feel sorry for my co-workers who didn’t come, you have to be here to see this firsthand. They really need us here; you have to be here to feel it. The people who work in the fields are very friendly – very tired, but willing to take time.”

Magdalena Gonzalez, 59, Wasco, member, UFW. Magdalena picks roses and benefits from a union contract. “(Being at Campo de Justicia) is very motivating, this is like my family! It’s a really beautiful experience here.”

Juanita Polendo Ontiveros, in her “wisdom years,” Sacramento, chair of the UFW Support Committee for Northern California, Royal Chicano Air Force. “We’ve been supporters of UFW for 40 years. I like sharing our life experience in organizing with the younger organizers and the new farmworker members. That pairing is very valuable; we are very interested in bringing in the next generation. With Campo de Justicia, UFW has taken the lead.”





Mike Sherritt, 43, San Clemente, organizer, Ironworkers, Local 416. “Campo de Justicia is a good experience for anybody to really learn what the issues are firsthand. I’m going to look at grapes a lot differently, with a lot more thought.

Andrea and Marcos Muñoz, 62 and 65, Chicago. Retired. Marcos: “I’m a farmworker – I stopped picking Sept. 16, 1965. In the original strike, we were limited in the things we could do; we could not contact workers directly in the fields. You could be arrested if you were caught on private property, so we used to hide in the fields to talk to workers. This year, I spoke with a man who signed a card. Then, he said, ‘Come on, let’s get my wife and my daughter, they’re in the fields.’ (At first, I was a little afraid to go into the field – I thought it was a set-up. But then I realized it was OK. I felt so proud to be right there in the field organizing directly to the workers. And thanks to God and the union that fought and fought and fought to get those (access) laws passed.”
Andrea: “You see the changes the union has brought: You see the toilets, you see the drinking water…that all came about through the union. A lot more progress is needed, that’s why we came.”

Yolanda Chacon Serna, 47, live nowhere, work for nat’l stationed all over the place – I live in the union -- I grew up in this movement, before all this was built,. We had an alternative school bc my parents were in the field. I grew up on the picket lines.

Nelson Rodriguez, 42, Atlantic City. Business Representative, Unite HERE, Local 54. “I pay $6 for one pound of grapes in the market and I see these people over here making $7 an hour – and they are picking a lot of cases. I feel very bad about this because it’s dangerous work. Some people told me they found snakes around the vines, then there’s the pesticides, the sun, it’s too much work for $7. Where does all that extra money go?”

Petra Soto, 29, Oxnard, farmworker, picks strawberries. “In the fields, the company was making their campaigns as well. I didn’t expect that, that they’d try to scare workers. (Even so, the response has been) really good. Workers are really positive!”

Nohemi Gonzalez, 60, Delano. Retired farmworker. Volunteers for UFW. "Farmworkers are getting just $7 an hour. Gas is too expensive, rent is too expensive, everything is going up – but not the wages. I worked in the fields for 30 years, my whole life, most of the time with no union contract. It’s better with a contract!”

Julio Cortazar , 33 , Watsonville, sells pots and pans door-to-door. “I’ve never organized for a union before. I have a friend I play cards with, he told me to come. (Then, he didn’t!) I tell the workers I’m from Salinas, that I heard about their situation, and they sign up. I don’t understand how people can live on $7.00/hour. Maybe I’ll start to work with the union!”

Kristi Laughlin, 37, Berkeley, finishing her Masters Degree in theology at Graduate Theological Union. She is doing her thesis on the farmworker movement in Florida. “Being here has made me much more conscience of how terrible conditions still are for farmworkers in the United States. I was born and raised in Central Valley and had the allusion that these things had all been taken of – that the fight had been won. It’s nice to meet the generations here (at Campo de Justicia) and see the mix of activists from the 60s still here, still involved, and seeing the next generation pick up the torch – passing on the wisdom.”

Javier Soto, 48, Atlantic City, Field Representative, Unite HERE, Local 54. “My father worked in the farms in Puerto Rico. When I was 4 years old, my father took me to the fields. I used to sleep in the sugar cane fields. I have a picture of Cesar Chavez in my office and I am where it all happened – in Cesar Chavez’s camp! It’s exciting meeting the pioneers. They give me inspiration. It’s a privilege and honor to be here.”