Monterey County farm worker, former UFW president at State of the Union as guests of Panetta and Pelosi
Washington, D.C.—Monterey County farm worker and UFW Foundation member Pablo Martinez is a guest of Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) at the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Washington, D.C. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited former United Farm Workers president and UFW Foundation spokesperson Arturo S. Rodriguez as her guest. Both lawmakers and their guests played key roles in House passage by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on Dec. 11 of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act that would let immigrant farm workers earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture.
A former farm worker living and working on California’s Central Coast, Martinez labored in the fields of Monterey County for 16 years alongside his parents, harvesting and cultivating grapes, lettuce, strawberries, broccoli, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. He attended Hartnell Community College extension in King City, graduated in 2019 with his associates degree in communications from Monterey Peninsula College, Rep. Panetta’s Alma Mater, and is president of the Dreamers in Action Club at Monterey Peninsula College.
"It is important that we have some legalization for farm workers," said Martinez. "Every strawberry you eat and every head of lettuce you buy was hand-picked by a farm worker. "I want the President to recognize our contributions to this country and the important role we play in feeding America and the world.”
See KSBW's story, here: Congressman Jimmy Panetta invites former farmworker to Tuesday’s State of the Union speech
Read the Monterey Herald's story, here: Farmworker community member to be Rep. Panetta guest at State of the Union.
Follow Pablo's journey and experience at the State of the Union on UFW Foundation social media:
¡Sí, Se Puede!
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