The Japanese Mexican Labor Alliance (JMLA) was a historic labor organization from Oxnard, CA. Their sacrifices as workers fighting for their rights in the face of violence and intense backlash from their employers shall be recognized. Today, as immigrant workers and their families are being targeted by the federal government, we reflect on the power of solidarity shown by the union members of JMLA in the face of oppression.
Here on California’s Central Coast, the legacy of resistance runs deep. Many generations of farmworkers have organized, spoken out, and demanded dignity in the face of exploitation. The courage of today’s farmworkers who carry on that legacy through union and community organizing is a source of inspiration.
One powerful yet often overlooked part of our history is the 1903 Oxnard Sugar Beet Strike, when Japanese and Mexican laborers in Ventura County united across cultural and language barriers to protest unfair wages and harsh working conditions. Their solidarity was remarkable for its time and remains a profound example of collective action. These workers challenged not only economic injustice but also the tools of division that weaken movements for change.
More than a century later, the struggle for farmworker justice continues. Farmworkers still face inequities in wages, housing, healthcare access, and labor protections. Their work sustains our communities and puts food on our tables, yet their voices are too often unheard or overlooked.
Today, the struggle for immigrant, labor, and farmworker justice is felt everyday in Central Coast communities. Honoring the past means recognizing that the fight is not over, it has simply evolved. As a community, we have a responsibility to uplift each other and highlight our history as we fight for a future with fairness and dignity for all workers.
That is the community was invited to join us for Rooted in Resistance: The 1903 Sugar Beet Strike & the Continued Fight for Farmworker Justice on the Central Coast.
Date: Sunday, April 12th
Time: 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Location: Oxnard Performing Arts Center: 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA 93030
This free event was open to the entire community and featured key speakers, opportunities for dialogue, and a food distribution to support farmworkers and families. It was designed to bring people together, bridging history with present day advocacy, while ensuring access for all who wished to participate.
Change begins with awareness, but it grows through community. The objective was to remember this important history and to learn strategies to build a more just future for Oxnard workers.