Newspaper clippings for Melon Strike (1975)
Dublin Core
Title
Newspaper clippings for Melon Strike (1975)
Description
The United Farm Workers and Texas Farm Workers unions protested annual melon harvests through a series of strikes of local growers including El Texano Ranch, Griffin & Brand, and Southwestern Fruit & Vegetable Company.
However, on May 26, 1975, a confrontation between union organizers and El Texano Ranch, in Hidalgo, Reynosa, Mexico erupted into violence as ranch supervisor C.L. Miller shot 11 protestors for intentionally damaging his melon fields.
In the subsequent days, organizers continued to protest and local law enforcement were called in on behalf of the growers, who sought to drive the interloping union members off their land. These events galvanized protestors and farmworkers throughout the 1975 melon season and spread across Texas to farms in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle.
However, on May 26, 1975, a confrontation between union organizers and El Texano Ranch, in Hidalgo, Reynosa, Mexico erupted into violence as ranch supervisor C.L. Miller shot 11 protestors for intentionally damaging his melon fields.
In the subsequent days, organizers continued to protest and local law enforcement were called in on behalf of the growers, who sought to drive the interloping union members off their land. These events galvanized protestors and farmworkers throughout the 1975 melon season and spread across Texas to farms in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle.
Date
1975 Summer
Collection
Citation
“Newspaper clippings for Melon Strike (1975),” UTRGV Digital Exhibits, accessed December 21, 2024, https://omeka.utrgv.edu/items/show/1697.