Got this note in a message on facebook. For those of you in Dallas, turn up if you can!!

Host:
LULAC District III
Type:
Meetings – Club/Group Meeting
Network:
Global
Date:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Time:
12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location:
Dallas City Hall
Street:
1500 Marilla St., 6th Floor Council Chambers
City/Town:
Dallas, TX

Description
Join us:
Wednesday, Feb. 10, Noon to 3 p.m.
Dallas City Hall, 6th Floor Council Chambers
1500 Marilla St., Dallas, TX 75201
RSVP: jessegarciadallas@gmail.com

Please come show your support and urge Dallas City Council members to vote in favor of renaming a portion of South Central Expressway (from Pacific Avenue on the north to Grand Avenue on the south) to César Chávez Boulevard.

Cities around the nation including Austin, El Paso, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Boise, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Albuquerque and many others, have already honored César Chávez with a street. It is time that Dallas step up and recognize an individual that means a lot to the Hispanic community, a community that makes up 40 percent of the city.

The City of Dallas already has roads named after leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and President George Bush. All three of these men were given this distinguished honor even though none of them lived here or were born in Dallas. But their work and achievements have affected the lives of many who reside in this city.

The life and work of César Chávez has also affected generations of Dallas citizens. Many older Dallas Latinos and Latinas who worked as migrant workers in their youth remember hearing about the advances brought on by Chávez and the organization he cofounded — the National Farm Workers Association, later known as the United Farm Workers.

His nonviolent manner of protesting brought awareness to the plight of many field workers who were not getting paid a decent wage. His work also helped better the human condition of laborers whose health conditions were at risk due to deadly chemicals being used as pesticides. When Chávez helped get rid of pesticides, it also resulted in better protections for the people who consumed these fruits and vegetables.

Local civil rights leaders, like the late Pancho Medrano, worked alongside Chávez to further their movements in Dallas. The work of Chávez was felt throughout the state of Texas, which has relied on agriculture as an economic engine. Texas farm communities from Lubbock in the West to San Juan in the South have named streets after this great man who helped many in their time of need.

When Dallas City Council members vote to honor César Chávez with a boulevard that runs through 19 city blocks in downtown Dallas, they will not only recognize a legendary civil rights activist but an American hero who at the age of 17 joined the U.S. Navy during World War II.

After serving his nation, Chávez became a community organizer, empowering many Hispanics with the right to vote and the right to organize.

If you cannot attend the event and you are a Dallas resident, please write your city council member and mayor TODAY and ask the following…

“I respectfully ask that you vote in favor of renaming South Central Expressway to César Chávez Boulevard and show the world how inclusive and diverse the City of Dallas can be when an opportunity to do so arises. Cesar Chavez is an American Hero who served his nation in the military during World War II and fought for better working conditions and protections for America’s workforce. Please vote yes on Cesar Chavez Blvd.”

Dallas City Council Members:

District 1
Hon. Delia Jasso
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 2
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5EN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 3
Hon. David Neumann
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 4
Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5EN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 5
Hon. Vonciel Jones Hill
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 6
Hon. Steve Salazar
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 7
Hon. Carolyn Davis
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 8
Hon. Tennell Atkins
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 9
Hon. Sheffie Kadane
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 10
Hon. Jerry Allen
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 11
Hon. Linda Koop
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 12
Hon. Ron Nantinsky
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

District 13
Hon. Ann Margolin
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201

District 14
Hon. Angela Hunt
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201

Mayor Tom Leppert
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Room 5EN
Dallas, TX 75201

To email them directly, visit this website and click on your councilmembers’ link: http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/government.html