GCC students submit initiative for Cesar Chavez state holiday

Original Link: http://www.gccaz.edu/voiceonline/index.cfm?id=4550

By Violeta Tamayo-Lopez

The Voice Newspaper

April 27, 2004

Arizona United, a group formed to bring about change in Arizona, filed an initiative to designate a paid holiday for the late civil and human rights leader Cesar E. Chavez.

Gabe Cruz and Jim Lugo, both Glendale Community College students, established the non-partisan organization to bring about change in the state of Arizona. Cruz said, “Our main reason for filing this initiative was because of all of the anti-immigrant sentiment that has emerged lately, specifically PAN (Protect Arizona Now.)

PAN is an initiative that would “require proof of citizenship to register to vote, photo ID to vote, and proof of eligibility to for federally mandated public benefits.” PAN’s website also notes, “Our local, state, and federal officials steadfastly refuse to enforce our immigration laws, to the point that America is now overrun with ILLEGAL aliens.”

“This holiday would be in recognition of a man whose contributions to society, using non-violence tactics to get justice for migrant workers and the voices unheard, should never be forgotten,” said Cruz.

Arizona United will have until July 1 to collect 122,612 registered votes in order for the initiative to go on the November ballot. If this is not achieved, the group plans to file again for the 2006 ballot.

This same group filed the Last Call Act of 2004, which was a statewide initiative that was geared towards authorizing the sale of alcohol past 1:00 a.m. but not exceeding 3:00 a.m. Arizona United discontinued their efforts once the Arizona Legislature passed a bill that would allow alcohol sales until 2:00 a.m. This included allowing bars to remain open until 2:30 a.m. and will become effective in the fall.