(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today Gov. Brown signed AB 7 requiring California to annually
proclaim Larry Itliong’s October 25th birthdate as “Larry Itliong Day” and encourage public
schools to teach about Itliong’s life and contributions to California. By signing AB 7, Gov. Brown
guarantees that Itliong’s legacy of fighting for justice and equality will be properly honored for
generations to come. AB 7 was authored by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland).
Larry Itliong was a labor organizer and a giant in California farmworker union history.
Itliong was one of the leaders of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), a
union fighting for the rights of farmworkers. Led by Itliong, AWOC was the first union to strike
for improved wages and working conditions in Delano in 1965, launching the California farm
labor movement. At the urging of Itliong, AWOC and National Farm Workers Association, led by
Cesar Chávez and Dolores Huerta, coalesced to form the United Farm Workers of America.
“Larry Itliong is a hero not only to Filipino Americans and Filipinos in the diaspora, not
only to all Californians and Americans who fight for socioeconomic and racial justice, but also to
his surviving family,” says Johnny Itliong, one of Larry Itliong’s children and director of the
Larry Itliong Foundation for Education. “As his son, I am personally touched by this news. It’s
been many years of wondering when this would happen; I’ve spent many years asking when
people would recognize what the manongs have done. This means a lot for my kids who are now
starting to understand who their grandfather was. This means a lot to the countless immigrant
youth who know first-hand the meaning not only of struggle but also the value of self-advocacy.”
AB 7 passed both houses of the Legislature with unanimous, bipartisan support and is
endorsed by the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO; AFSCME, AFL-CIO; Asian Americans
Advancing Justice; Asian Pacific Environmental Network; California College and University
Police Chiefs Association; California History Center Foundation De Anza College; California
Immigrant Policy Center; City of Berkeley; Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles; Filipino
American Coalition for Environmental Society; Filipino American National Historical Society,
Santa Clara Valley Chapter; Filipino Senior Citizen Association; GK 1 World Foundation; Little
Manila Foundation; Philippine National Day Association; Philippine Weekend, Inc.; San
Francisco State University; and Yerba Buena High School.
About Life
Life is a nonprofit program focused on promoting the legacy of Filipino American labor leaders, the
Manong generation, starting with the story of one of its most influential leaders, Manong Larry Itliong.
Life is a division of the Pilipino Workers Center. More info at www.pwcsc.org