THE STRIKE GETS. . .

,STRONGER EVERY DAY I.,

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E:I Malcriado 'Is~~~fa' ·10t. "T-he Voic~ of the Farm Workerll" IEdltlon No•.21

'EDJTORIAL:HALF A MILLION AGAINST TWO HUNDREDTHE,WHOLE STORY OF:THE GENERAL STRIKE OF THE GRAPES OF 1965NILU PHOBABLY NEVER BE KNOWN. THERE WERE SO MANY ACTS OFHEROISM't>.N THE PART OF THE WORKERS THAT WILL GO UNRECORD­ED; ACTS OF COURAGE AND ,BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF THE MOST ..BRU:rISH VIOLENCE: DOPS, CHEMICALS, PHYSICAL FORCE, COURTINJUNCTIONS. ACTS OF. DIGNITY AND STRENGTH WillCH HAVE PUTGR.ONERS AND CONTRAGTORS TO SHAME.

,,:,2-- EL MALCRIADOPublished Every Two WeeksFarm Worker Press

P. O. Box 894, Delano, Calif.

NEVER AGAIN WILL ANYONE BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE FARM WOR­KERS Wll.JL NOT FIGHT FOR WHAT IS THEIRS. WE ARE LEARNING THEVALUE OF FIGHTING FOR 'WAGES AND FIGHTING FOR WRITTEN,SIG1'{ED P~OMlSES BY THE GROWER. WE ARE LEARNING THE VALUEOF BEING TOGETHER. WE HAVE HAD IT PROVED TO US THATTOGETHER WE ARE STRONG. WE HAVE HAD IT PROVEN TO US THATIF -.oHERE ARE ENOUGH OF US TOGETHER, THEN WE ARE STRONGEN:UUGH TO .DO ANYTHING WE WANT.

THERE ARE OVER ONE-HALF MILLIO~ FARM WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA:WORKING UNDER DEGRADING CONDITIONS. THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT20q MAJOR GROWERS.

IN THE GREAT STRIKE OF THE GRAPES, WE BEGIN TO SEE THISVICIOUS PATTERN CHANGE. TillS STRIKE HAS FRIGHTENED THEGROWERS TO THEIR DEPTHS: THEY HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ANDTHOUSANDS OF DOLLARS T9 TRY TO STO~ IT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN

. UWSUCCES$FUL. THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US AND TOO FEW OFTHEM.

AND WE HAVE BEGUN TO TRIUMPH OVER THEM. THIS YEAR IT IS THEGENERAL STRIKE IN THE GRAPES. NEXT YEAR PERHAPS WE WILLSWEEP THROUGH THE VINE~ARDSAND THE ORCHARDS AND DOWN THELONG ROWS' OF MELONS AND POTATOES: INTO THE PACKING SHEDSAND COLD STORAGE PLANTS, . AND NOTHING Wil.JL BE ABLE TO STOPUS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF US.

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FROl\i THIS DAY THERE IS NO TURNING BACK UNTIL EVERY FARMWORKER IN CALIFORNIA HAS A LIVING WAGE AND A STRONG CONTRACT.WITH HIS EMPLOYER. PEOPLE ALL OVER THE VALLEY WILL REMEM­BE'R THE GENE'RAL STRIKE IN THE GRAPES AS THE FIRST STEP ONTH'E;LONG ROAD TO FREEOO'M.

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After work slowed so that manyranches were at half-or quarter-pro­duction, and others halted completely,growers began searching outside areasfor labor. When people began comingfrom the Bakersfield area in responseto the false radio announcements, the

(Continued on page 14)

Meanwhile the National Farm WorkersAssociation began an all-out attack

X)<~~NJVY" on the people who were working in thegrap,es in the forbidden area of thestrike. Picket lines were set up on alarge scale in Earlimart, Delano .andArvin, in. front of the homes ofstrikebreakers. The purpose of thesepickets was to tell everybody who wasbreaking the strike and who was sup­porting it. Signs carried read "SCAB"aT "A STRIKEBREAKER LIVES HERE:'The strikers were able to shameseveral contractors into stopping thevicious activity of bringing people towork at fields in the strike.Ih StrIke Area·

'Photo's Pages 4-5 ; 8-9

As the growers began to hurt more andt----------,~....-------.;:...-__t"1 more after every day of the General

Strike in the grapes, they began toresort to bigger and bigger lies to foolthe workers. They spent hundreds ofdollars on radio broadcasts trying totell workers that the strike was over.It didn't work.

THE GREAT PARADENearly a thousand farm workersmarched through the streets ofDelano last Sunday in the second massdemonstration of the Great Strike inthe Grapes. They were led byCesar Chavez, director of theNati:mal Farm Workers Associitionand leader of the strike.

On either side of Chavez wereLarry Itliong and Ben Gines, organi­zers of the Filipinos, AWOC.

Leading them was a truc"kful of"Reinas de la Huelga" -- Queens ofthe Strike -- children who had beenselected for the parade. Then,carrying signs, saying "THE STRIKEGROWS STRONGER EVERY DAY","LONG LIVE THE CAUSE", and"BETTER WAGES", the workersfollowed in a line, four abreast, whichwhich went for 1/4 mile.

At the last minute police refused topermit the crowd to march over thefreeway bridge into the Main Street

" area of Delano. The leaders of theparade agreed to this because theyhave so far received fair treatmentfrom the Delano police. Everypoliceman in Delano was on dutyduring the demonstration, but therewas no trouble•

... Before the demonstration the strikersfilled Ellington Park as their childrenran races and ate ice cream. Thenthe workers rallied behind the UnitedStates flag and the Eagle Banner ofthe Association and began their mar"ch.

"i'l The demonstration was the large~t

, (See next page)

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Above: Children of the strikers take a brief happy respite from the grim.events of the strike in which their parents are stru~gling for a better life ..

PARADE: (Continued)workers' parade in the history ofDelano. The Sheriff of Kern County,who is keeping a detail of ten menand a large paddy wagon at the Star­dust Motel in Delano, said that thestrike is growing stronger.

The parade circled the west side ofDelano and returned to the park whereCesar Chavez addressed the cheeringcrowd, saying, "We are stopping themand we are hurting them. If we cankeep our great strike peaceful, non­violent and strong, we cannot lose. "

Chavez called for more pickets to jointhe over 300 people who are demonstra­ting every day to keep workers out ofthe fields.

Cesar Chavez, leader of the strike,addresses the cheering crowdafter the march in which 800people participated.

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'MONEY I FOOD AND HELP

Dear Editor:I have a serious matter to report toyou. As you know, I have been cap­tain of a valorous band of pickets whooperate in the McFarland area. OnMonday, September 26, our groupcrept up on a grape Vineyard at 5:00A. M. It was very dark. ·With gre~t

courage we kept our lonely vigil ~tilthe sun came up.

But I must report a new tactic used bythese sneaky growers. 'When the suncame up we found that they had re­moved the grape vines and plantedcotton! This was a very foul thing todo! Future pickets should take notice.

I am happy to report that absolutelyno cotton pickers-went to work in thatfield on that day..

Contributions of money, food and goodwishes began to pour into the office ofthe Farm Workers Association duringthe second week of the strike. Severalfull-time volunteers from studentgroups in San Francisco and Los Ange­les came to help the Association.

300 workers in San Francisco contribu­ted $300, saying "if you need more,just ask us for it." Truckloads of food Minister, right, tries to reasoncame from unions in Fresno, church with-two growers at. the vine-groups in Los Angeles and community yard of Schenley Industries, Inc.groups in Bakersfield and other cities. T hey refused to discuss the cri-The M. A. P. A. 'with whom the Associa- tical issues of the strike.tion had been fighting, pledged its sup- 11--------:--------_......port and it was gratefully received. /1._4141A"The C. S. O. offered to raise money and ~U"'~...food. Abo.1t 10 protestant ministersvolunteered to walk the picket lines; a 41(J. t"'/: t!!!etttfJlt,Catholic Worker group in Oakland com- "'l ~ ~l .bi:!p.d with representatives from all thecity \L."lions planned a gigantic caravanof cars coming 300 miles from SanFrancisco Bay area to Delano, .bringing money, food and help to thestrikers. A bishop visited the frontlines at the vineyards of SchenleyIndustries and watched the desparategrower trying to lure the peaceful andnon-violent strikers into a fight. Min­isters talked with growers, trying toget them to sit down at the table withthe Association and with Awoe.

Important lawyers in the city offered todonate their help free of charge, noteven asking that their expenses bepaid. Meanwhile, the only help thegrowers could get was from $3 an hourarmed guards who roamed the countyroads looking for strikers to provokeand harrass.

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A loyal member,Porterville

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H •••but our flag was' still there."HERE IN PICTURES IS THE DRAMA OF WHAT HAPPENED ON JUST ONE DAY ON ONE RANCH. THERE WEREDOZENS OF OTHER INCIDENTS PROVING THE BRAVERY AND STRENGTH OF THE STRIKERS IN THE FACE OFTHE MOST BARBARIC TREATMENT IMAGINABLE. THE GROWERS PROVED MANY TIMES OVER THAT THEYARE THE MEANEST AND MOST IRRESPONSIBLE MEN IN CALIFORNIA. SOME OF THE WORKERS WHO WEREBLINDED BY SULFUR SPRAY LATER IN THE WEEK CAN GIVE AMPLE WITNESS TO THIS.

CESAR CHAVEZ, LEADING THE GREAT STRIKE FROM HIS" DELANO HEADQUARTERS, RECEIVED REPORTAFTER REPORT OF'THESE INCIDENTS. "THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND THE POWER, " HE SAID, "BUT THEREARE THOUSANDS OF US AND VERY FEW OF THEM. "

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One by one the workers stoptheir work and leave the field.The grower, trembling withrage, speeds out of the vine­yard in his truck to frightenthe pickets. He comes backwith the sheriff, who tellshim that the workers are notViolating the law.

Strikers raise the banner ofthe Association at the field ofSchenley Industries, Inc.,where six crews are workingin spite of the general strike~

"Get out of the fields, "yell I

the strikers at the workers.

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Then the grower gets twotractors going back and forthon the plowed field behind thestrikers. Clouds JOf chokingdust begin to billow acrossthe road. But the strikerscannot be moved.

4After a two-hour ordeal inwhich the strikers wererefused protection by themore than half-dozen sheriff'sdeputies on the scene, thebanner of the Association isstill flying in spite of theswirling dust. In disgust at.his failure, the grower callsoff the tractor drivers. Pro­:duction at this field was stop­;ped 90% by the strikers.

He attempted to place charges with,Judge Kitchen in Delano, who couldnot handle the case 'because--said thejudge--the case appeared to be anattempt on Nelson's life and had to befileg in Bakersfield. Charges. againstGamboni are now pending with theDistrict Attorney.

On the first day of the strike; W. 1.Gamboni, a Delano area gro~r, was:driving along Zachary Road near :'Delano. Gene Nelson, a striker, was:!picketing beside the road. He says ;~that Gamboni, who was out "hunting"strikers, with his dog in the back ofhis truck, was speeding and wentcompletely off the road--it appear­ed to Nelson--in order to hit himwith the car..

Nelson jumped for his life and the ,truck, now travelling straight toward 'him at about 30 miles an hour, did not'swerve. Nelson says that if. he had \ 'not jumped he would have been killed.

It's Harvest Festival Time in Delano,and in all the stores on Main Streetyou will find shining displays of Ribierand Thompson grapes, beautifullypacked in~white tissue paper. Thelabel on some of th~ most lusciouslooking of these grapes is that of JACKRADOVICH.

On Saturday, September 25, the fifthday of the Assbciation strike againstthe Delano area grape growers, JackRadovich, 18, son of Jack Radovich, Jr.drove down Garces Highway with aspray rig past 16 pickets blanketingthe Workers with deadly sulfur spray.At the end of the row of strikers, heturned his truck around and returnedpast about half of the workers, contin­uing the sulfur spray. At this point hewas stopped by the police who blockedthe road to prevent further injury tothe workers. All 16 workers weretemporarily blinded by the sulfur. Oneworker, Epifanio Camacho, wasseriously blinded and suffered discom­fort for several days.

When El Malcriado called the sheriff'soffi~e, the sheriff explained that theprocedure for obtaining the arrest ofyoung Radovich was very difficult andinvolved the highway patrol, the districtattorney, trips to Bakersfield .and longdistance phone calls at our expense.The Association will demand that thisperson be served with the most seriouscriminal charges, and will press thesecharges no matter how difficult it is todo so.

But there were a few cases of peoplewho deliberately set out to break thestrike. Some were paid extra moneyby the grower; others did it because .they love the grower more than theirown people. With' these people theAssociation dealt harshly, marchingto their homes in the evenings to lettheir friends and neighbors know thatthey were scabs.

CAAATAN KNOCKS DOWNNO N-V IOL ENT'W0 RKER

The Farm Workers Association beganpicke~ing at the homes of. strike­breakers on the third day of the strike.Most people left the fields as soon asthey learned that there was a strike;others had an opportunity to think itover as they picked grapes during theday with the pickets on the edge of thefield. In most cases they walkeddramatically out of the fields or failedto return the following day.

The growers then began taunting thelittle group of pickets, and pushingand shoving them. Mr. julio Hernan­dez, from Corcoran, happened to

The first of these demonstrations wasat the home of Maximo Martinez on10th Avenue in Delano, on the eveningof September 23. Five pickEts carriedsigns saying "A Strikebreaker LivesHere". After a few minutes a crowdbegan to gather. There were about adozen growers and some of them weredrunk.

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THE GR.OWERS HIT BACK WITHDispoto knocks d~wnworker with "truck

ThE same grower has, according toseparate reports, been illegally har­rassing pickets. According to one ofthe strikers he said, "You'll be push­ing up daisies" and "I'm a member ofthe Mafia. "

Bruno Dispoto, Delano grower,backed his pickup truck into a strikerwho was knocked down on Driver Roadin Kern County, on September 22. . 'The police took a picture and thenturned the matter over to the highwaypatrol. The. Association, will seek toplace criminal charges a'gainst this'man for assault with a deadly weapon.

When the strike began on the Dispotoranch, Mr. Dispoto began a campaignof terror and intimidation. Viciousdogs were in the area and the picketson several occasions were forced toretreat to their cars. Mr. Dispototook spe.cial pleasure in spraying thestrikers with highly poisonous sulfurwhich he did from the safety of his ownfield with a tractor and spray rig.. Onanoiher occasion he drove his truckdirectly toward a picket in what thepicket says was an attempt on his life.

~~r-----",~:":""--_--l-,-__ One of the growers whistled for adrive by, and quickly: stopped the Delano policeman who was parkednear-riot by notifyin.g Cesar Chavez down the street watching the scene.who sent police officers to the scene After talking with the grower the

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The officers arrived on the scene and policeman drove away.stopped Milan Caratan, Delano areagrape grower, who' had just knockeddown one of the strikers.. Caratanwas searched and held by the police.

... -- "-';"·:----"-10 ~ " -11----~---~--1111!1 ...VIOL'~NCE AND BRUTA'LITYRadovich Sprays': OPEN SEASON16 ,Strikers '"With Blinding Sulfur ON STRIKERS·

THE STRIKERS ARE DEMANDING 112 PER GONDOLA fOR THE fIRST PICKING; $16 fORSECOND PICKING AND $22 FOR THIRD. THE GONDOLAS ARE BIG STEEL BOXES ONWHEELS WHICH HOLD TWO TONS OF WINE GRAPES.

"GAME OF THE TOWNS"P. O. BOX 894DELANO, CALIF.

The first correct answer to bereceived in the last contest wasfrom ROSA LOPEZ of RICH­GROVE, Calif., whose answerwas LOST HILLS, CALIF.

SEND YOUR ;ANSWER AND-:yO UR NAME AND ADDR ESSTO:

j.'U'~u t~ '1ttIHt£

" ~ 61 7," 7fJItt#e/

THIS IDGHLY SKILLED WORKHAS BEEN DONE IN RECENT

EARS FOR AS LITTLE AS 9~ ABOX WITH NO HOURLY WAGE.THE GROWER GETS MORE THAN$4.00 FOR EACH BOX.

THE STRIKERS ARE DEMANDING,THAT THEY BE PAID $1. 40 PERHOUR FOR PICKING AND PACKING~ABLE GR.APES PLUS A BONUSjVF 25~ PER BOX.

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AN, APPEAL TOMQTHER'S EVERYWHERFor twenty days, there has been astrike in the grapes around Delano,McFarland, Richgrove and Earlimart.The Mothers' Auxiliary Committee for ~the str~k~ asks everyone to please help .rritthe strIkmg mothers get food for our .. .families. The need is urgent, espec­ially for food for our children.

For our hope for a better life, and forthe love of the Virgin of Guadelupe,please help us. We have pledged our­selves to stand by our husbands in thestrike for as long as it lasts. Yet ourchildren are hungry, arid our foodreserves are very low.

Please can the Farm Workers Assoc­iation office, 8661, or write to Box894, Delano, Calif. Or, please bringsome food,to the office at 102 AlbanyStreet, Delano.

DOWN WITH STRIKE-BREAKERS andLONG LIVE THE STRIKE'!!

Mothers' Emergency Comm.Farm Workers Association

)Is<'" ..',._ I • ..

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Strikers of TangancicuaroThe workers of the Tudor Ranch wentout together at the call of the strike.With their leaving, they demonstratedto the owners of Tudor Ranch that theywere united with the cause.

These workers came from the stateof Michoacan and from the town ofTangancicuaro. The efforts of MaxMartinez, ~l scab, were fruitless andthe· Tudor Ranch IS now without wor­kers.

------------------------------------"!-----------------. EL MALCRIAOO SAYS: Long Live. Tangancicuaro!

SAVE

Send this coupon toEL MALCRIADO, BOX 894DELANO, CALIFORNIA

The best way to be sure you will getyour MALCRIADO is by mail, deliv­ered to your home every two weekS.Send your name and address to Box894, Delano, Calif., and we willsend you the newspapef to you forqne year.

The cost is $2.00 per year, but youdo not have to send this now. Wewill send you a bill. '

NAME_---:.__~ _

ADDRESS _

TOWN. _I'I!---------------------------------._------------------_.

SCABS: (Continued)

Association distributed thousands of .leaflets which said: WHERE THEREIS A GRAPE TO BE PICKED, THEREIS A S~RIKE.

The leaflets gave a map of the strikezone which covers from Highway 46north of Bakersfield, up Highway 99to Tipton just south of Tulare; westinto the 'Wasco-McFarland and Ave.56 near Earlimart. T,his is the big­gest table grape producing area' inthe United States and is a significantsource of wine grapes.

Think of the Future

~FARM WORKERS CREDIT UNION.

loa AL.8ANY DIn.ANO. CAUt. ~. O. 80X •••

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lYlondsy, September 27, 1965 . ,. '.

!'Iy dear friend,

This letter is written in haste and with a sense of urgency becausetime Is running agsinst the farm worker in Ka).'n and Tulare Counties.

The plight of the farm worker In California is well known, but theettempts to help organize the workers so that they can have the samebargaining rights as most other United States Workers won years ago,are not well known.

One such attempt is being made·by Cesar Chavez of the Nstiona1 farm "Workers Association of Delano, California. This Association - an -independent union - has been building a grass roots organization amongfarm workers In California for some two years now for the purpose ofhelping the worker win his rights as a worker and therefore as personwith dignity.

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Perhaps that day is now I There is at this time a strike in the grapefields of TUlare and Kern Counties led by the Agricultursl Workers ,Organizing Committee (AfL-CIO) and the farm Workers Association. 'Several thousands of workers are involved and the outcome, i.e., whethergrowers will be willing to discuss a contract agreement is probably ,several weeks away.

The basic demand of the workers is that they be paid $1.40 an hour and25¢ a box. Hardly an unreasonable request in orJer to enter our 20thCentgry affluent and "great '30c!Aty." But do not be deceived; growersare well aware that if they are brought to the contract table thatthis will mark the most significant breekthrough for social justice inthe history of California Industrial Ag~iculture. (Yes, I use thesewords deliberately.) .

Talking with Cesar by phone last night brought two requests to lightthat need our immediate attention: food end money. Sacks of beans,flour, rice and canned food are desparately needed for the families ofthe workers. lYloney for food and gas is also urgently needed.

If you can help - snd that is up to you ~ please send whatever you canto Cesar Chavez / Nstional farm 'Aiorkers Association / Box 894 I Delano,Cal1forniB.

Yours for' social ju~t!ce,

.

8rother Gilbert, r~C

(Res.) Cathedral High ?choo11253 Stadium WayLos Angeles, California

.c.

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lEI M 1 rid01 Published In Spanish and English editions every twoa c a weeks by Farm Worker Press, Box 894, Delano,' Calif.

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