Sí se puede

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Sí se puede (Spanish for "Yes, It can be done!") is the motto of the United Farm Workers. In 1972, during Cesar Chavez's 25 day fast in Phoenix, Arizona, he and UFW's co-founder, Dolores Huerta came up with the slogan. ^[1]

It has more recently become a rallying cry for immigrant rights activists in the United States, and was commonly seen and heard during the 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests on posters and in chants, respectively. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Controversy over the English translation

Anti-immigration groups and others have frequently translated the phrase as "yes, we can." This translation has been criticized for being inaccurate and for purposely presenting a more confrontational message (i.e. "we can cross the border" as opposed to "yes, it is possible to better our lives"). ^{[citation needed]}

A more accurate translation is "yes, it is possible." The translation that the United Farm Workers uses is "Yes, It can be done!" ^[2]

[edit] AeroMexico's trademark application

After AeroMexico, a Mexican arline, had filed a trademark application for "Sí se puede" with the US Trademark Office, lawyers for the United Farm Workers defended the phrase as the intellectual property of the UFW. After litigation, AeroMexico agreed not to use the phrase and abandoned its trademark application. ^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Arturo S. Rodriguez (1998-02-31). Statement from Arturo S. Rodriguez, President, United Farm Workers of America, Celebrating Cesar Chavez's Birthday 3/31/98-La Paz, Keene, Calif. (English) (HTML). Press Releases. United Farm Workers. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
2. ^ LeRoy Chatfield; et. al. (UFW volunteers) (© 2005-2006). UFW GLOSSARY Farmworker Movement Terminology (English) (HTML). Farmworker Movement Documentation Project. Si Se Puede Press. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.