SR0688 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0688 LRB104 21231 LAW 35832 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Farmworkers have long formed the backbone of the American food system, providing the labor that feeds families across the nation while often working under some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions; and

WHEREAS, For generations, farmworkers, many of them immigrants and living in poverty, have endured long hours, extreme heat and cold, low wages, unsafe workplaces, and limited legal protections, all while sustaining one of the most essential sectors of our economy; and

WHEREAS, The modern farmworker movement was built not by any single individual but by thousands of workers who organized, marched, and sacrificed to demand dignity, fair treatment, and basic human rights; and

WHEREAS, Filipino labor leaders, including Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, and Andy Imutan, were among the first to launch major strikes that reshaped the agricultural labor landscape, standing alongside Mexican and Latino farmworkers to form a historic multiracial coalition for justice; and

WHEREAS, Mexican and Latino farmworkers played a central role in the movement, including the late Marcos Munoz, a resident of Chicago's Little Village community, whose tireless organizing and leadership in the New England grape boycott helped secure some of the first union contracts for agricultural workers in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Women were essential to the movement's success, sustaining boycotts, leading community efforts, protecting families, and ensuring that the struggle for justice reflected the experiences of those most affected; and

WHEREAS, Children also carried the weight of this movement, marching alongside their parents, enduring economic hardship, and becoming symbols of the future that farmworkers were fighting to protect; and

WHEREAS, The courage and persistence of these workers led to some of the most significant labor victories in American history, including improved wages and working conditions, protections from harmful pesticides, and the recognition of farmworkers' right to organize and bargain collectively; and

WHEREAS, The farmworker movement has always been rooted in the belief that every person, regardless of race, language, immigration status, or economic background, deserves dignity, safety, and the ability to provide for their family without fear or exploitation; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is home to thousands of farmworkers and food-chain workers whose labor sustains our communities and whose contributions deserve recognition, respect, and continued advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Honoring farmworkers means recognizing the collective struggle that made progress possible, acknowledging the sacrifices of those who risked their livelihoods to demand justice, and committing ourselves to protecting workers today and in the future; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day in the State of Illinois in recognition of the essential contributions and sacrifices of farmworkers past and present; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the multiracial, intergenerational coalition of workers, including men, women, and children, whose collective action transformed labor rights in this country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the courage, resilience, and contributions of farmworkers in the State of Illinois and across the United States.