President Obama to Establish César E. Chávez National Monument

On Monday, President Obama will travel to Keene, California to establish the César E. Chávez National Monument.

The monument will be designated under the Antiquities Act - to protect unique natural and historic features in America - and will be established on the Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), or La Paz property - a historic link to civil rights icon César Estrada Chávez and the farm worker movement.

"César Chávez gave a voice to poor and disenfranchised workers everywhere," Obama said. "La Paz was at the center of some of the most significant civil rights moments in our nation's history, and by designating it a national monument, Chávez' legacy will be preserved and shared to inspire generations to come."

The site served as the national headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) as well as the home and workplace of César Chávez and his family from the early 1970's until Chávez' death in 1993, and includes his grave site which will also be part of the monument.

Helen F. Chavez, widow of Cesar Chavez thanked the president for ensuring that La Paz will always be preserved.

"But the President is doing more than honoring one man,' Helen said. "Cesar knew there were many Cesar Chavezes, men and women who made genuine sacrifices and accomplished great things but whose names are largely forgotten. If Cesar were here, he would say the President isn't acting to recognize him; he's honoring the farm workers and all of those who sacrificed by joining the cause. It is in that spirit that we acknowledge the President's designation and we are grateful to him."

The national monument will commemorate Chávez and the farmworker movement The commemoration represents the culmination of a process that has been underway for several years.

According to the White House, Chávez played a central role in achieving basic worker protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers across the country. The White House said Chávez has helped farmworkers by getting provisions ensuring drinking water was provided to workers in the fields, to steps that helped limit workers' exposure to dangerous pesticides, to helping to establish basic minimum wages and health care access for farm workers.

"Even though Cesar Chavez dedicated his life to the farm workers, his legacy, reflected at La Paz where he spent his last quarter century, transcended farm labor and even Latinos because it became a universal message of hope, empowerment and social justice," Arturo S. Rodriguez, president, United Farm Workers of America said.

Certain properties at La Paz were donated to the federal government by The National Chávez Center, in consultation with the United Farm Workers of America, the César Chávez Foundation and members of César Chávez's family.

According to the White House, The César E. Chávez National Monument will have a Visitors' Center containing César Chávez's office as well as the UFW legal aid offices, the home of César and Helen Chávez, the Chávez Memorial Garden containing Chavez's grave site, and additional buildings and structures at the La Paz campus.

The government said the monument will be managed by the National Park Service in consultation with the National Chávez Center and the César Chávez Foundation.

This the fourth National Monument designated by Obama using the Antiquities Act. He previously designated Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, a former Army post integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military; Fort Ord National Monument in California, a former military base that is a world-class destination for outdoor recreation; and Chimney Rock, which is located in the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado, and offers a spectacular landscape rich in history and Native American culture.