Cesar Chavez stamp unveiled in San Jose April 24

As a matter of fact, I met with Chavez and the Ranch Committee of the UFW in January-March 1979 in Salinas, Oxnard and in Bakersfield/Tehatchape after they struck the lettuce fields of Sun Harvest owned by United Brands (Chiquita) then the largest grower of vegetables (lettuces, celery, brocolli, etc.)in the world. Too many stories could be told, but my take after 20-30 hours on the other side across the bargaining table is:

1. Chavez really believed in Chavez, period, totally without any moral compass. 2. The mysterious murder of a field hand, Rufino Contreras, in El Centro, California two hours before the first meeting was and is a convenient instigation for anti-American and anti- business propaganda which killing Chavez knew of before any of the authorities or even the Contreras family. 3. During the course of the strike which involved numerous attacks on company workers and supervisors, Gov. Jerry Brown refused to use the CHP to stem the violence largely on state roads beyond the scope of local law enforcement. 4. To this day or certainly until the early 1990's, the UFW has been exempt from filing the normal U.S. Dept. of Labor forms for annual reporting on checkoff funds, DL-1, etc. This is a political exemption not a legal one. 5. Two private aircraft flights detained by US Immigration and once by the San Diego office of the FBI in 1980-81 contained pro-Sandanista literature. Both were chartered by the UFW. 6. The major media, NY Times and LA Times gave Chavez and the UFW a total pass on property destruction, violence, and statements to the picketers inciting violence.

I could go on but it would only serve to try one's patience. And I'm no tin foil hat wacko.

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