Texas Border Business
STARR COUNTY, Texas – A Texas Historical Commission (THC) marker memorializing the historical strike and march of farmworkers in 1966 will be unveiled on January 31, at South Texas College (STC) Starr County Campus along with a second marker recognizing and naming the local leaders of that strike.
The THC considered the 1966 strike and march an under-told historical event and commissioned a marker to address “historical gaps, promote diversity of topics and proactively document significant underrepresented subjects or untold stories.” The farmworkers in Starr County were spurred to strike because of extremely low wages and poor working conditions in the fields. As soon as the strike began, the Texas Rangers began a brutal campaign to intimidate the strikers. In response, the strikers began a historic march from Rio Grande City to the State Capitol, on July 4, 1966, in an effort to bring attention to these working conditions. Then Gov. John Connally and other statewide officials met the marchers in New Braunfels, telling them they would not get a minimum wage law and that they should go home. The defiant marchers decided to continue. When they arrived at the Capitol on Labor Day, they were met by a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters, many of them union members. This was a triumph of perseverance that sparked a conversation and started the movement that would lead to positive change in working conditions for so many.
“Having South Texas College (STC) be the location for these markers is poignant since we were built on what used to be melon fields,” said Rose Benavidez, STC Vice-Chair. It tells the story of our people who have always been willing to work hard for a better life and fight for what is right.
Guest speakers include surviving strikers, local elected leaders, and U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar.
What: Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony
When: Friday, January 31
Where: South Texas College Starr County Campus
Cultural Arts Center Building F
142 FM 3167
Rio Grande City, Texas
Time: 11:00AM
 marker memorializing the historical strike and march of farmworkers in 1966 will be unveiled on January 31, at South Texas College (STC) Starr County Campus){kind=link}