White House issues statement on death of Helen Chavez

President Barack Obama released a statement this week in regards to the death of Helen Chavez, wife of former civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.

The statement can be read in its entirety below:

"For 88 years, Helen Chavez was a force of quiet strength, but she left a legacy that will echo for generations. Alongside her husband, Cesar, she devoted her life to organizing farmworkers in California and across America, fighting for higher wages, better working conditions, and a brighter future – La Causa. She managed her union’s finances, prepared meals, marched in picket lines, and was even arrested for her actions, all because she believed in the dignity of America’s farmworkers – men and women she toiled with in the fields, even as she raised eight children and helped lead a movement."  
 
I had the great privilege to meet Helen when I designated the home that she and Cesar lived in for so long as the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. Michelle and I send our condolences to her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – including her granddaughter, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, a trusted member of our White House team. And we join them all in celebration of a life well lived – a life that proves those who love their country can change it. Sí se puede."

For more information on memorial services for Chavez, click here.