The Monitor (McAllen) in November/December 1968 describing the protests and walkouts and subsequent actions taken by Edcouch Elsa administrators.]]> The Monitor]]> ]]> Inscription reads: On Feb. 6, 1971, a small group gathered outside the Pharr police department to protest incidents of discrimination and brutality. The crowd grew to hundreds and the day turned violent as tensions with law enforcement escalated. During the chaos that became known as the Pharr Riot, a law enforcement officer shot and killed bystander Alfonso Loredo Flores. For several weeks, Union y Fuerza and other groups picketed city hall and boycotted businesses. Events in Pharr received national media attention. In the aftermath, the city's mayor, commissioners, and chief of police resigned. In June 1972, citizens elected their first Mexican American mayor. These important events in Texas' Chicano movement advanced civil rights and political engagement. Erected 2018 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 20119.)]]> Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org]]>
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.]]>
As TFW attempted to negotiate higher wages for onion pickers, their efforts were ended prematurely by Othal Brand of McAllen, who brought in his own farmworkers and bought out all the produce in the fields.

During the same period, United Farm Workers led a strike of Gulf Distributing Company's fields near Mercedes. UFW advocated for farmworker wage increases from $0.60 to $2.00 per bag of onions. Farmworker unrest spread throughout the Valley, including "sit-down" strikes in Weslaco and Alton.
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