Letter: Mexican and Filipino Unity Won Rights for All Farmworkers

Dear editor, 

I am appalled to hear the news that a vandal attacked Filipino businesses and a community organization in Alvarado and Union City last month and made racist references to Mexicans as well. 

As your article pointed out (April 29), the United Farm Workers Union was established by both Mexican and Filipino leadership. It was their unity that helped win the Delano strike to improve the lot of all California farmworkers.

It is also disheartening to read that re-naming the Alvarado Middle School after Larry Itliong and Phillip Veracruz has been regarded as controversial.

I worked with both Larry and Phillip during the 1960s grape strike in Delano, and I believe such recognition for their accomplishments is long overdue.  

I wish the people of Union City well, and I hope that re-naming the middle school will be a sign of reconciliation, unity and pride for many decades to come.  

Sincerely yours,

Mark R. Day

Vista, CA

Mark R. Day worked from 1967-70 as a chaplain (Franciscan friar) full-time with the UFW. Day edited their newspaper, El Malcriado, in Delano and also worked on the grape boycott. He is the author of "Forty Acres: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers" (Praeger, 1971), available in most libraries. He currently organizes day laborers.