DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s | Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 4

Transcribe
Translate

Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s

Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 4

-4-

I think you'll agree that all men would have some say as to their living and working conditions. 

In fact these are the very same principles that Pres. Nixon says our boys are fighting for in Viet Nam. 

Yet Nixon during his '68 campaign in Calif. supported the growers' position and during his first 3 months in office ordered the pentagon to increase its purchases of grapes for shipment to Viet-Nam . 8 times over the previous year. 

8 times asmuch in 3 months

Our Mexican American boys are suffering more casualties in proportion to our numbers than Anglos in Viet-Nam

So you can say our people get the shaft here at home and to add insult to injury our sons in Viet-Nam are asked to eat 6lbs of grapes before they're killed. 

I would like the State of Ill. to go on record in support of self-determination for the farmworker and demand that the Federal Government not use its offices to interfere and take sides in a labor-management dispute. 

To demand that the farm industry be included under the protection of the Wagner Act and guarantee them this protection by state legislation. Onions-Building Trades.. Another problem I want to mention is the stereotyping of the MA on TV commercials. 

These are documented in this issue of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's Digets

QUOTE

If the state of Michigan can pass a law to see that the fish in Lake Michigan are not poisoned by DDT then I think the state of Ill. can ban the TV showing of these bigoted commercials which are poisoning the minds of millions of viewers. 

I only have one more demand to make of this commission

As I said before we have lost wages by appearing here today and I am sure you'll agree that we've rendered the State Ill a service, just as you are being paid to do today. 

I ask this commission to see that every one of us testifying here today is reimbursed for lost wages. 

THANK YOU.

Saving...

-4- I think you'll agree that all men would have some say as to their living and working conditions. In fact these are the very same principles that Pres. Nixon says our boys are fighting for in Viet Nam. Yet Nixon during his '68 campaign in Calif. supported the growers' position and during his first 3 months in office ordered the pentagon to increase its purchases of grapes for shipment to Viet-Nam . 8 times over the previous year. 8 times asmuch in 3 months Our Mexican American boys are suffering more casualties in proportion to our numbers than Anglos in Viet-Nam So you can say our people get the shaft here at home and to add insult to injury our sons in Viet-Nam are asked to eat 6lbs of grapes before they're killed. I would like the State of Ill. to go on record in support of self-determination for the farmworker and demand that the Federal Government not use its offices to interfere and take sides in a labor-management dispute. To demand that the farm industry be included under the protection of the Wagner Act and guarantee them this protection by state legislation. Onions-Building Trades.. Another problem I want to mention is the stereotyping of the MA on TV commercials. These are documented in this issue of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission's Digets QUOTE If the state of Michigan can pass a law to see that the fish in Lake Michigan are not poisoned by DDT then I think the state of Ill. can ban the TV showing of these bigoted commercials which are poisoning the minds of millions of viewers. I only have one more demand to make of this commission As I said before we have lost wages by appearing here today and I am sure you'll agree that we've rendered the State Ill a service, just as you are being paid to do today. I ask this commission to see that every one of us testifying here today is reimbursed for lost wages. THANK YOU.