Last Chance to Stand Up for Killed Farmworker, Maria Isabel

It may be too late to bring back the life of 17-year-old farmworker, Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez, but there's still time to demand that those who killed her are held accountable. That's exactly what student groups, farmworkers, community activists, and the United Farm Workers aim to do this week — and you can help.

For those unfamiliar with the case, Vasquez Jimenez's story is a tragic tale. The teenager was two months pregnant and pruning grapes in a California vineyard when she collapsed in 2008. Vasquez Jimenez toiled in 95-degree weather for nine hours straight, illegally denied breaks for water or to rest in the shade. Although Vasquez Jimenez was eventually brought to the hospital after her body temperature spiked to 108 degrees, it was too late — two days later, she died of heat stroke.

Vasquez Jimenez's employer, Merced Farm Labor, acted inhumanely to the pregnant teenager, but denying farmworkers regular breaks for water and shade runs counter to California's most basic heat laws, too. Merced's owner, Maria De Los Angeles Colunga, and safety coordinator, Elias Armenta, failed to provide water, shade, or prompt medical attention for Vasquez Jimenez. The pair's gross negligence and abysmal management earned them charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Despite the serious charge, a plea bargain may mean that the farm bosses will spend zero time behind bars. San Joaquin County District Attorney, James P. Willett, is poised to let De Los Angeles Colunga off with three years' probation and 40 hours of community service, while Armenta may face only 400 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine. Apparently the unnecessary death of a pregnant farmworker ranks among petty crimes like graffiti and stealing lunch money.

Vasquez Jimenez's family and their supporters — and basically anyone with a moral conscience — think that this lax plea bargain shouldn't be on the table. That's why community groups and the United Farm Workers are pushing their campaigns for justice into high gear.

Yesterday, student organizations in Fresno and San Jose held "bring your own laptop" rallies where students could gather together and email District Attorney Willett to demand that Merced's farm bosses receive jail time. "Fresno State represents our community, the diversity of our community," Fresno State alumnus, Matt Rogers, told KFSN-TV. "Many of these students have parents, grandparents who were farmworkers, who are still farmworkers, and we thought this would be the greatest place for a day of action."

A national non-profit, United Farm Workers (UFW), is also standing up for Vasquez Jimenez. Yesterday and today, the organization is hosting a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Stockton, CA courthouse where De Los Anegeles Colunga and Armenta will receive their sentence on March 9, 2011. UFW members are joined by farmworkers, community supporters, clergy, and Vasquez Jimenez's family.

Even if you can't make it to the UFW's candlelight vigil, there's still a way that you can stand up for farmworker justice. The two Merced farm bosses won't receive their sentencing until this Wednesday, March 9th, so there's still time to talk District Attorney Willett out of a plea bargain. More than 15,000 Change.org members have signed the UFW's petition demanding that De Los Angeles Colunga and Armenta receive jail time for their unspeakable cruelty. You can join these members by signing the UFW's petition here.

Vasquez Jimenez's death may have been unnecessary, but it doesn't need to be meaningless. This is an opportunity to demand justice not only for the teenager who lost her life, but for the countless farmworkers who are exposed to cruelty and exploitation on a daily basis.

Photo credit: United Farm Workers via Facebook