Cesar Chavez was an American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Dolores Huerta, who coined the union's rallying cry "¡Sí, se puede!" ("Yes, we can") — later echoed in Barack Obama's presidential campaign slogan. He organized peaceful strikes, boycotts, and marches, often going without food himself to draw attention to workers' struggles. His work greatly improved conditions for farmworkers across the United States and inspired generations of activists.