THE City of Carson, California and various organizations on Saturday, October 23 will join the entire community in honoring the life’s work and legacy of Larry Itliong – a Filipino American labor leader and organizer.
A tribute march will start at 8 a.m. around the vicinity of Veterans Park located at 22400 Moneta Avenue in Carson followed by a labor awards ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s Larry Itliong Labor Awardees are Mary Grace Barrios, a community, political and union leader and Justice for Janitors (JfJ), a social movement organization that fights for the rights of janitors (caretakers and cleaners) across the U.S. and Canada.
Mary Grace Barrios is the current Vice President for Policy and Strategy for the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats. She was the first Filipino American Chair of West Covina Community Services Commission. She is also the Vice President for Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, San Gabriel Valley. She is the Pilipino Team Organizer and represents SEIU 2015 at the L.A. County Federation of Labor.
Justice for Janitors was started on June 15, 1990 in response to the low wages and minimal health-care coverage that janitors received. Justice for Janitors includes more than 225,000 janitors in at least 29 cities in the United States and at least four cities in Canada. Members fight for better wages, better conditions, improved healthcare and full-time opportunities.
“The City of Carson is the first city to recognize the contributions of labor union leader Larry Itliong. We are proud to have this annual event and proud to have been instrumental in the movement to get Assembly Bill 7 passed in Sacramento recognizing October 25th as Larry Itliong Day throughout California,” said City of Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes.
In 1965, Larry Itliong led the successful “Great Delano Grape Strike” to protest the low wages and miserable working conditions. In 1966, he led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and merged with the National Farm Workers Association led by Cesar Chavez to form the United Farm Workers union.
In 1970, Larry Itliong founded and became the president of the Filipino American Political Association (FAPA), the first national political Filipino American organization and a crucial alliance between Filipino professionals with 30 active chapters throughout the United States.
‘Stronger Together in CommUNITY and Heroism’ theme was inspired by Larry Itliong’s leadership with the Delano Grape Strike of 1965. What he did to start the farm labor movement in this country is a great example of standing up for what’s right, using your voice, coming together in unison to facilitate positive change.
For more information about Filipino American History Month Celebration, please call (310) 847-3570.
This is Florante Peter ibanez and I was asked to speak at this Varson Event . please join us at 11am to learn more about Larry Itliong and FilAm History Month October. Have. Blessed Day