Nagi Daifullah

Nagi Daifullah (1949 – August 1973; Arabic: ناجي ضيف الله ) was a Yemeni migrant to the United States and union organizer with the United Farm Workers. He was a strike captain during the 1973 grape farmers' strike organized by Cesar Chavez. Daifullah spoke Arabic, English and Spanish, and was integral in not only organizing the Yemeni community but also transcending ethnic and linguistic barriers between workers.

Death

Daifullah was killed in August 1973 at the age of 24 by Kern County police when one officer beat him in the head with his flashlight and then dragged him so that his head continued hitting the pavement. Over 7,000 people attended Daifullah's funeral. A display features prominently in the Arab American Museum at Dearborn, Michigan, and the Orange County Democratic group has issued a Social Justice Award in Daifullah's name. Yemeni, Nicaraguan and Chinese janitorial workers in California who were struggling to organize with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) drew on Daifalluh's legacy during their 2002 campaign. Daifalluh was one of the most important Arab trade unionists in the United States.