Governor Newsom proclaims Larry Itliong Day 2024

Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring October 25, 2024, “Larry Itliong Day” in the State of California.

The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below.

PROCLAMATION

During Filipino-American Heritage Month, California celebrates pioneering labor leader and civil rights activist Larry Itliong. Born on this day in 1913 in a province of the Philippines, Larry Itliong immigrated to the United States as a teenager, where he soon began his life’s work of empowering others.

As a worker in Alaska’s fishing and canning factories, Itliong helped found the Alaska Cannery Workers Union to ensure better working conditions, including an eight-hour workday with overtime. Itliong served in World War II and later settled in Stockton, where he continued his organizing efforts. There Itliong helped start the 1948 asparagus strike – the first major agricultural strike after World War II – and founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton in 1956. Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and other leaders also helped found the Farm Workers Organizing Committee.

Itliong emerged as a leader in the watershed farm workers’ movement and allied with Coachella Valley grape workers in their fight for better wages. In 1965, Itliong and his fellow Manongs—respected elders of the Filipino-American community—organized against exploitative winemakers in Delano. Shortly thereafter, the Manongs joined with César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and the National Farmworkers Association and began a nationwide boycott of grapes that led to the first union contracts for farmworkers.

In recognition of his incredible impact on our state and his advocacy for those without a voice, I was honored to induct Mr. Itliong into the California Hall of Fame in 2021. Today, on his 111th birthday, we honor the immense contributions of Larry Itliong and the Manongs, whose hard-fought battles helped advance farmworker rights and social justice in California and beyond. Let us remember their message “Isang Bagsak!” – We are all connected in our fight for justice and we rise and fall together.

THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, hereby proclaim October 25, 2024, “Larry Itliong Day.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have laid my hand upon this and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed on October 24, 2024.

GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California

WITNESS:

SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Foreign Minister