Illinois Gov. Quinn honors life of Cesar Chavez

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CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn is honoring the life of Cesar Chavez, the activist whose personal story is the subject of a new film.
Quinn on Friday encouraged Illinois residents to learn about Chavez and the causes he championed. The Chicago Democrat also declared Monday Cesar Chavez day in Illinois.
Chavez was a cotton picker and U.S. Navy veteran who formed the United Farm Workers and led a fight for fair wages and civil rights.
Quinn says he’ll always remember meeting Chavez in 1974. He says the Mexican-American activist’s message of “juntos podemos” – which translates to “together we can” – has stayed with him.
Quinn says the new film, titled “Cesar Chavez,” reminds people of the value of service and that “history is made one painful step at a time.”