White House: First Lady to visit Forty Acres
Several local leaders expressed excitement Saturday about first lady Jill Biden’s planned visit to The Forty Acres in Delano on Wednesday.
“That is a great birthday present for Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers and the Latino community,” United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta said by phone Saturday night.
The Office of the First Lady at the White House confirmed to The Californian Saturday afternoon that Biden would participate in a Day of Action at The Forty Acres on late labor leader Chavez’s birthday.
“On Wednesday, March 31, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Delano, California, to participate in a Day of Action at The Forty Acres with the Cesar Chavez Foundation, United Farm Workers, and the UFW Foundation,” a note from the first lady’s office said.
Huerta said it is the perfect time for Biden to visit here, as COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed to farmworkers each weekend at The Forty Acres as the pandemic wears on. Huerta said she also appreciates that the first lady is a teacher, and could bring attention to the relatively low educational attainment issues that plague Kern County.
Huerta hopes she can see Biden — she said she’s been to the Bidens’ home several times — even though she already has
many commitments scheduled for that day because it is Chavez’s birthday.
Christian Romo, chairman of the Democratic Party in Kern County, said “we’re very excited” that Biden would visit, noting the vaccination site for farm
workers at The Forty Acres would be seen by people across America with the first lady’s visit.
“This is sacred ground, that’s what we like to call it,” referring to the historic location from which Chavez did so much of his advocacy work.
“I am sure Cesar (Chavez) is looking down on us today,” Romo said, noting that President Biden has a bust of the United Farm Workers co-founder in the Oval Office.
Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio called Biden’s planned visit significant.
“To know that the first lady of the White House is coming to Delano is a great honor,” Osorio said, adding that it’s important that farmworkers are on the “radar” of the White House.
He said the visit represents a demonstration of support for farmworker communities.