KEENE, CA-- Governor Jerry Brown issued a proclamation declaring Monday in California Cesar Chavez Day. In the true spirit of "si se puede" or "yes we can" 23 new U.S. citizens were sworn in at the Chavez Memorial in Keene near Tehachapi.
Teresa Arredondo finished the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became a U.S. citizen. A lot of emotions were running through her as she's been working in the fields since 1985 and met Chavez in 1989.
"Very proud to be a part of the United States,” Arredondo said. “I learned from Cesar Chavez we can fight for all dreams, for all people."
President Obama who famously borrowed Chavez's slogan "si se puede" turning it into English as "yes we can" for his 2008 presidential campaign blessed the crowd via a video message.
"God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America," Obama said.
For Karla Villa the ceremony means she now has one very important right.
"I am happy now I get to vote,” Villa said. “That is one important thing so now I can get my voice out there."
Mari-Carmen Jordan, the district director of U.S. Immigration for Central and Northern California, is a naturalized citizen herself and said it never gets old watching new citizens take the oath.
"The joy in people's eyes and faces when you tell them you are approved for this benefit then you are going to go through this whole process, a ceremony,” Jordan said. “To me that was really important."
Cesar Chavez would have been 87 years old Monday. In his proclamation Gov. Brown asks all Californians to build upon Chavez's dream where workers are treated with dignity and respect.
Teresa Arredondo finished the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became a U.S. citizen. A lot of emotions were running through her as she's been working in the fields since 1985 and met Chavez in 1989.
"Very proud to be a part of the United States,” Arredondo said. “I learned from Cesar Chavez we can fight for all dreams, for all people."
President Obama who famously borrowed Chavez's slogan "si se puede" turning it into English as "yes we can" for his 2008 presidential campaign blessed the crowd via a video message.
"God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America," Obama said.
For Karla Villa the ceremony means she now has one very important right.
"I am happy now I get to vote,” Villa said. “That is one important thing so now I can get my voice out there."
Mari-Carmen Jordan, the district director of U.S. Immigration for Central and Northern California, is a naturalized citizen herself and said it never gets old watching new citizens take the oath.
"The joy in people's eyes and faces when you tell them you are approved for this benefit then you are going to go through this whole process, a ceremony,” Jordan said. “To me that was really important."
Cesar Chavez would have been 87 years old Monday. In his proclamation Gov. Brown asks all Californians to build upon Chavez's dream where workers are treated with dignity and respect.