San Jose United

Thank you to everyone who submitted over 150 petitions in just a few days. This petition is no longer available because the issue has been resolved as of 5/20/20. 

Submit a 30-second online petition to request that Santa Clara County act on an offensive quote regarding Cesar Chavez.

Please use the form below to submit an online petition to Santa Clara County Supervisors and the Board Clerk. The online petition email requests that the County consider replacing a Historical Heritage Commissioner.

• Per a 5/6/20 San Jose Spotlight article, Commissioner Halberstadt noted that “Art can also exaggerate false histories – akin to how Cesar Chavez’s name is all over town, yet his legacy in San José is only years of residency.”
• Per a 5/16/20 San Jose Spotlight article, “Halberstadt said if she frames Chavez’s legacy through the impact of his community organizing alone, that could be comparable to ‘creating a myth’ because oral histories are often unreliable and misremembered.”

THE TEXT OF THE ONLINE PETITION EMAIL IS LISTED BELOW

Dear Santa Clara County Supervisors and Board Clerk,

[your-message]

I respectfully urge you to consider replacing Commissioner April Halberstadt of the Santa Clara County Historical Commission. Please also forward my request to the Commission.

Per a 5/6/20 San Jose Spotlight article, Commissioner Halberstadt noted that “Art can also exaggerate false histories – akin to how Cesar Chavez’s name is all over town, yet his legacy in San José is only years of residency.”

This offensive comment appeared to express disdain for celebrating Cesar Chavez in San Jose. As can be expected, public outcry resulted. For some, there was hope that Commissioner Halberstadt would indicate steps she would take to make up for the harm caused to the community.

Instead, per a 5/16/20 San Jose Spotlight article, Commissioner Halberstadt chose to defend the offensive comment and again minimize Chavez’ impact. Per the article: “‘I should not have framed what I said to you like you would understand history,’ Halberstadt said. ‘So, that’s my fault. I don’t feel bad, I’m an old lady. They’re not going to make me angry because they’re angry.’ Halberstadt said if she frames Chavez’s legacy through the impact of his community organizing alone, that could be comparable to ‘creating a myth’ because oral histories are often unreliable and misremembered.”

Commissioner Halberstadt should not be in a position where she is able to influence documentation of our history.

I look forward to resolution of this matter by you and/or the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission.

[your-name]
[your-zip]

You may not use my contact information for any purpose other than to respond to my concern regarding the topic listed above, nor may you share my address with any other organization(s) or individual(s).

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This mail was sent on behalf of a Santa Clara County resident via San Jose United!

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