Florida Senate - 2009 (NP) SR 2826 By Senator Hill 1-06067-09 20092826__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the tireless work of Paul 3 Vásquez on behalf of the working people of Florida and 4 expressing condolences to his family and friends on 5 his untimely death. 6 7 WHEREAS, Paul Vásquez, was born in San Antonio, Texas, the 8 son of Mexican immigrants, and grew up working in the migrant 9 camps of Michigan beside his parents and siblings, and 10 WHEREAS, Paul Vásquez at an early age developed a strong 11 work ethic and a great desire to speak out against 12 discrimination and injustice anywhere he saw it, and 13 WHEREAS, prior to his service as Florida field director for 14 the AFL-CIO, Paul Vásquez served as the first Hispanic city 15 councilman elected in Flint, Michigan, where he sponsored a 16 series of initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of the 17 state’s Hispanic residents, and 18 WHEREAS, one of Paul Vásquez’ proudest achievements was 19 passage by the city council of a measure that won Flint the 20 distinction of becoming the first city in the nation to name a 21 street after labor leader César Chávez, and 22 WHEREAS, Paul Vásquez drew strength from his faith and from 23 the words of his hero, Chávez, who said, “There is no turning 24 back. We will win. We are winning because ours is a revolution 25 of mind and heart.” NOW, THEREFORE, 26 27 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 28 29 That the Senate pays tribute to the tireless work of Paul 30 Vásquez on behalf of the working people of Florida and expresses 31 condolences to his family and friends on his untimely death. 32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 33 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Mrs. Gloria 34 Vásquez, widow of Paul Vásquez, as a tangible token of the 35 sentiments of the Florida Senate.