Parallels can be drawn between Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers movement and modern political campaigns, guest speaker Randy Shaw said today.

Shaw is an activist and the author of “Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century.” Shaw became interested in the United Farm Workers in 1976 when he first met a member of the group.

Friends of the Library along with the Serna Center brought Shaw to Sacramento State, to talk about the impact and legacy Cesar Chavez’ work with the United Farm Workers have left on California. Shaw gave his lecture and did a book signing in the University Library Gallery to an audience of about 40 people.

“Most of you recognize the slogan, “Yes, we can,’ from President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign but it came from Cesar Chavez originally,” Shaw told the audience. “Campaigning at a grass roots level originated with Chavez.”

Shaw emphasized that at the time Chavez’ methods were original and ground breaking and since then his techniques have been replicated and modeled for modern activism and political campaigns.

“Nancy Pelosi’s first elected campaign was run by an ex-farm worker,” Shaw said.

Shaw also discussed how student activism has gone down over the years. There aren’t as many opportunities for students to leave school and work for the United Farm Workers or other rights groups as there was when Chavez was fighting for rights.

“I’d like to see students get involved in immigrant’s rights and California Education activist groups,” Shaw said.

Jean Torcom, President of The Board of Friends of the library, was very thankful to have Shaw speaking on campus today.

“As friends of the university library we had this event to talk to students about opportunities to change things and honor books and introduce students to them,” Torcom said.

It’s a huge accomplishment that they got laws for farm workers in California, said senior liberal studies major Monique Kalachi.

“Even though it was just one state they were able to set up and make something happen,” Kalachi said.

Outside of California, Cesar Chavez is barely known, Shaw said.

“I was on the East Coast last year during Cesar Chavez day and there wasn’t even a mention in the newspaper,” Shaw said.

Cahil Bhanji can be reached at [email protected].