Catholic leader joins farmworker union in its march through California’s Central Valley
Fresno Diocese Bishop Joseph V. Brennan not only gave the United Farm Workers marchers his blessing as they stopped in Fresno on Thursday (Aug. 11) on their pilgrimage to Sacramento, but he also had a message to Gov. Gavin Newsom: “Sign this legislation.”
Brennan joined the UFW on day nine of the 24-day march to persuade Newsom to sign AB 2183, which would allow farmworkers to vote for union representation from their own home without fear of intimidation from foremen, supervisors or labor contractors.
Brennan said he “absolutely encouraged him to sign this legislation, when and if it gets to his desk.”
“Governor, we want to make the lives of our farmworkers even easier,” Brennan said. “They’re in the fields, they’re working in this heat all the time. They are providing, they really are. They’re putting food on our table that wouldn’t be here.
“We wouldn’t be able to buy it, wouldn’t be able to have our folks to just give food to their children, if it weren’t for the farmworkers,” Brennan said. “So please sign this. Make it easier for them to, in a sense, direct their own future.”
Brennan said since the 1960s, California bishops have always been part of the farmworker movement in its advocacy for decent working conditions, decent wages and benefits.
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“The California Conference of Catholic Bishops is behind AB 2183,” Brennan said, adding that when he had the opportunity to walk with UFW marchers, he “seized it.”
Brennan and Bishop Emeritus Armando Ochoa, the former Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno, joined the march at St. Anthony Mary Claret Church in Fresno as it entered its last mile.
Both bishops walked with UFW leaders including union president Teresa Romero, former president Arturo Rodríguez, as well as Paul F. Chávez, César Chávez’s son who is also president of the César Chávez Foundation, and Andrés Chávez, among others, as marchers made their way toward Calwa Recreation Park for a rally to conclude their day.
“Today was a hard day. We walked 19 miles, and it is amazing to see the farmworkers, the energy that they have, their determination that they have to finish the day,” said Romero, adding that the Catholic Church “has been amazing. We have had every single morning a priest that comes and bless our march and bless our day.”
“Our faith moves us,” Romero said, adding that they march with the Virgen de Guadalupe banner right in front of the march every day.
Brennan told marchers that he was glad to be part of their efforts and fight.
At the rally, Brennan gave a special prayer to the marchers. He also as blessed crosses and rosaries that were later given out to marchers.
“Thanksgiving. It really is a key word in our life. Thanks to those who’ve gone before us, who made this day possible, and hopefully, really a good outcome is possible for the future,” Brennan said. “Of course, what we pray for the most is AB 2183, we are working for that. And everyone here, everyone is encouraging the governor to sign it when and if it gets to his desk. So that’s the purpose. That’s our prayer.”
March details here.
