Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to Cesar E. Chavez High School students March 29 in Delano.
Schwarzenegger was just one of the guest speakers in a memorial hosted by a high school named after Chavez, in the same valley the UFW was formed and where the majority of its leaders still reside.
“Right now, when we get ready to introduce the governor, we want to do a farm worker applause, a unity applause,” said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez before introducing Schwarzenegger.
The high school students joined in, clapping exuberantly in unison with Rodriguez.
The presentation, meant to motivate and remind people of who Cesar Chavez was and what he stood for, was halted abruptly when Schwarzenegger moved to assist a young lady who appeared to have fainted on stage in the middle of his speech. Schwarzenegger helped her to her feet and off the stage before continuing.
“I’ve held a lot of speeches, but I’ve never made people faint,” said Schwarzenegger.
During his speech, Schwarzenegger praised Chavez and advocated education, “heat regulations” for farm workers, public service and general good will.
“We should not take this Saturday and just look at it as a day off; it’s a day on,” said Schwarzenegger. “We should think about what can we do in order to really honor Cesar Chavez on his birthday.”
“Hear me now and listen to me later. I’ll be back,” said Schwarzenegger at the end of his speech.
Also in attendance was Chavez’s granddaughter. “My grandfather once said, ‘Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students; what better book can there be than the book of humanity?'” said Natalie Hernandez.
“Governor Schwarzenegger’s presence here today is symbolic of the humanity that my grandfather believed in.”
A portrait of Cesar Chavez, taken by Otto Sturke, was donated to Cesar E. Chavez High School by the Chavez family. It was unveiled at the end of the presentation.
Aside from being a speaker as part of the high school’s Cesar Chavez presentation, Schwarzenegger met with local officials to discuss other business.
“Before the Cesar Chavez event today the governor met in Delano with about 25 south valley mayors as well as local community groups to discuss the governor’s efforts to help the central valley during this year’s freeze,” said Sabrina Lockhart, deputy press secretary to the governor.
“Following the Cesar Chavez event, the governor will head back to Sacramento where he will meet with a number of California mayors to discuss the gang problems facing California.”