TITLE
Recommendation to request that City Council commemorate human rights advocate, farm worker, and labor organizer Larry Itliong by declaring October 25th as Larry Itliong Day in the City of Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
Larry Itliong was born on October 25, 1913, in Ilocos, Philippines. In 1929, he migrated to the United States. At the time of his arrival, Filipino farm workers faced discrimination and low wages, and he became inspired to participate in his first labor strike in 1930. His life was spent working and organizing unions from California, Washington, and even seasonally, in Alaskan canneries. He eventually settled in Central California, where he became instrumental in the farm labor movement of the 1960s.
Larry Itliong led the Delano Grape Strike with over 1,000 farm laborers staging the first walkout on September 8th, 1965, in response to growers refusing to pay $1.40 an hour for wages as demanded by the union. Through his activism, Larry Itliong worked to strengthen labor rights and
led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC). This group's membership consisted of predominantly workers of Filipino descent and initially started the Delano Grape Strike. This group also crossed ethnic lines to persuade Cesar Chavez's labor group, National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) to combine forces with to strengthen their collective efforts. Together, they established the United Farm Workers of America Organizing Committee of the AFL-CIO. Larry Itliong's leadership is viewed among historians as crucial to the farm labor movement of the 1960s.
The month of October is designated as Filipino American History Month. With a population of over 30,000 people of Filipino descent in Long Beach, it would be fitting to recognize Larry Itliong for his contributions to California and United States History.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
VICE MAYOR, NINTH DISTRICT