A nationally-known activist who said pesticides on the grapes people eat are killing and causing widespread illness to grape farm workers will speak Tuesday at Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Cesar Chavez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, will present his case at noon to gain support for his six-year grape boycott and his fight for farmworkers’ civil rights.

Chavez said pesticides sprayed in California have caused high rates of cancer, death and birth defects in the grape-growing counties of the west coast state.

His appearance comes as part of a midwest tour including speeches at Northwestern University, Loyola University, DePaul University and the University of Chicago.

Lily Vera, president of the Organization of Latin American Students that asked Chavez to speak, said she hopes the speech will create support for the boycott and a fight for social change for the farm workers.

“The issues he addresses concern us all,” Vera said.

She also said Chavez represents a role model to society in his non-violent strategies similar to those used by Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The speech is sponsored by the Campus Acitivities Board and Student Association, which approved the funds needed for Chavez last week. His appearance will cost $5000 from student fees.

Though the cost was high, Vera said the SA finance committee and the SA senate approved the speech without much opposition. She added that the money would go for a good cause.

Finance committee members said at last week’s senate meeting they were impressed by OLAS’s support and organization in getting Chavez to appear.

Chavez has been leading boycotts and holding occasional fasting periods since 1965 to change the poor working conditions he worked under himself as a migrant farm worker.

The UFW claims his efforts have helped to unionize the farm workers, which have forced grape growers to sign contracts improving pay, medical plans and pension plans.