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CITY OF CARSON HOSTS 14th ANNUAL LARRY ITLIONG DAY CELEBRATION
The City of Carson Hosted the 14th Annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration at the Carson Event Center on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Carson proudly hosts this event annually to honor the legacy of a pivotal figure in the American labor movement and a champion for farmworkers rights. Carson was the first city in the nation to make Larry Itliong Day a holiday. Keynote speaker Johnny, Itliong, son of Larry Itliong, delivered a heartfelt address that remembered the lessons his father pioneered when he first began organizing laborers and translated that to life lessons he taught his children. This year featured dance performances by Kayamanan Ng Lahi, who performed dances from Larry Itliong’s home province of Pangasinan, Philippines, and by the Carson-based, coed hip-hop crew, Kindreds. The highlight of the day were several original cast members from the theatrical production of “Larry The Musical“, a new play which opened earlier this year in San Francisco, and which tells the story of Larry Itliong through song. The moving and heartfelt musical presentations affected several audience members, including Johnny Itliong, who was a consultant on the production.
There is an annual essay and poster contest whose winners are featured in the event program. These contests allow students to learn about Itliong while having the opportunity to have their talents showcased. The program cover features the art of grand prize poster contest winner Biel Cardona. The program also features the grand prize essay winner Michael Aguiniga. Both contest winners are students at Carson High School.
The 2024 labor award recipient was Jollene Levid. Levid, a dedicated union organizer with 20 years of experience in Los Angeles, has led the 2019 UTLA Strike and 2023 UTLA solidarity strike, achieving key demands for education and immigrant student protections. Her 11-year tenure at CIR/SEIU and SEIU 721 saw her advocating for healthcare professionals. A committed feminist and survivor, Jollene has been active in AF3IRM for over two decades, contributing to campaigns against human trafficking. Raised by Filipino immigrant parents, she is a mother who holds a BA from UC Irvine and an MSW from USC and is a passionate advocate for collective empowerment.
The organizational award was presented to the United Auto Workers. The United Auto Workers (UAW) is one of the most influential labor unions in the United States, representing hundreds of thousands of workers in the automotive, aerospace, and agricultural industries. The UAW has a rich history of fighting for workers’ rights, securing fair wages, safer working conditions, and comprehensive benefits for its members and has played a critical role in shaping labor laws and advancing social justice causes.
Carson made history as it became the first U.S. city to recognize October 25, Itliong’s birthday, as Larry Itliong Day in 2010. Four years later, former California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill requiring the governor to annually proclaim October 25 as Larry Itliong Day.
“As the first U.S. city to recognize Larry Itliong Day, Carson honors Itliong annually through this celebration. We are proud to have this annual event, and to highlight a Filipino American labor leader organizer who made so many contributions to American History. We also celebrate the leaders and organizations of today who fight for equity,” said City of Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes.
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