Press Releases Share Print #16-037 City of Carson Culminates Filipino-American History Month Celebration with a Special Tribute to Union Leader Larry Itliong on October 22 On October 22, the City of Carson and various organizations will join the entire community in honoring the life’s work and legacy of Larry Itliong – a Filipino-American labor leader and organizer.A tribute march will start at 9 a.m. on October 22 around the vicinity of Veterans Park located at 22400 Moneta Avenue in Carson followed by a labor awards ceremony. This year’s Larry Itliong Labor Awardees are Tony Doroño, co-founder of the Filipino Migrant Center, and the UCLA Labor Center, home of the national immigrant youth movement. Entertainment is led by saxophonist, composer, and arranger, Michael “Cody” Dear from UCLA. The event is free and open to the public. Larry Itliong was responsible for organizing immigrant farm workers and cannery workers for over 30 years. He helped establish the Alaska Cannery Workers Union in the 1930s and helped get a contract that called for eight-hour days with overtime pay.In 1965, Larry Itliong led the successful “Great Delano Grape Strike“ to protest the low wages and miserable working conditions. In 1966, he led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee and merged with the National Farm Workers Association led by Cesar Chavez to form the United Farm Workers union.In 1970, Larry Itliong founded and became the president of the Filipino American Political Association (FAPA), the first national political Filipino American organization and a crucial alliance between Filipino professionals with 30 active chapters throughout the United States.“The City of Carson is the first city to recognize the contributions of labor union leader Larry Itliong. We are proud to have this annual event and proud to have been instrumental in the movement to get AB 7 passed in Sacramento to have October 25 recognized as Larry Itliong Day throughout California,“ said City of Carson Mayor Albert Robles. “On behalf of a grateful City, we give special thanks to Councilmember Elito M. Santarina for his leadership in getting Carson to be the first City in the Country to recognize Larry Itliong Day,“ added Robles.On October 2010, Carson City Council passed a resolution establishing October 25 as Larry Itliong Day in Carson. City officials are encouraging the community to take part in observing this special day by attending the October 22 event honoring the life’s work and legacy of Larry Itliong who promoted and fought for the well-being of all of California’s Farm Workers. On June 30, 2015, Assembly Bill 7 (AB 7) was signed into law by Gov. Brown establishing October 25 as Larry Itliong Day in all of California. For more information about Filipino American History Month Celebration, please call (310) 952-1743.
701 E Carson Street