Washington House votes to make March 31 Cesar Chavez Day in Washington

OLYMPIA – March 31 would be Cesar Chavez Day in Washington under a bill approved by the House Monday.

Legislators voted 71-25 to send to the house a proposal that recognizes the late activist for farm workers and immigrants by setting aside his birthday for special recognition. While a not paid state holiday, March 31 would join other days which the state sets aside, including Columbus Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Mother Joseph Day and Juneteenth, the day slaves learned of their freedom after the Civil War.

The House passed the bill on a day when an estimated 1,000 Latinos were visiting the Capitol to lobby on a variety of social and economic issues and held a rally in the Rotunda with speeches and a mariachi band.

Among Spokane-area House members, Democrats Timm Ormsby and Marcus Riccelli, and Republican Mary Dye supported the bill. Republicans Bob McCaslin, Matt Shea, Jeff Holy, Joel Kretz, Jacquelin Maycumber and Joe Schmick opposed the bill. Republican Mike Volz was absent for the vote.