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Memorandum to Mr. Gebhardt RE: UNITED FARM WORKERS occurred in connection with the UFW strike. Mr. Briggs ewaeniaetant AGA Daeasaanl manent trith him AW tha eAlaer om At aeasses LEYUE SLE Ao BWSa A LL Wak AE ik that uay to discuss the FBI's posture with regard to the handling of the Civil Rights complaints. Mr. Briggs was referred to the CRD, USDJ. On 8/24/73, Mr. William L. Gardner advised he was being sent by Assistant Attorney General J. Stanley Pottinger to the Kern County, California, area to confer with various individuals on the scene regarding the conditions and to tnauire farethansA intn fhe sttustisan arising aut Af thea rte wW et bee i oe ee a ee es ee Na a Re Seto Wh wW and Teamsters Union confrontations. On 8/28/73, a discussion was had with Mr. Gardner concerning his trip to the Kern County area and during this discussion, he indicated he had met with Caesar Chavez, UFW leader. During this meeting Chavez stated he felt more Spanish-speaking FBI Agents should be sent into the area to investigate the Civil Rights allegations as many involve itinerant Mexican-American farm workers who spoke only Spanish. Mr. Gardner was asked specifically if he intended to recommend in his report to Mr Pottinger that rs he a ek dete SS ee 2 additional FBI Agents be sent into the area to handle Civil Rights investigations. Mr. Gardner indicated that he would make no such recommendation, that he felt this assessment could only be made from within the concerned agency, and that it would be somewhat presumptuous for him to make such a recommendation. de Gid state, however, he personally believed that as a result of his discussion with Chavez and attorneys for the UFW, the number of Civil Rights allegations needing investigation would increase. In referenced memorandum, Director Kelly expressed the opinion that if a determination were made additional Spanish- speaking Agents were needed to handle the Civil Rights cases, he would be agreeable to approving a reasonable number of such assignments. ACTION: To assist in the investigation of the increasing number of Civil Rights cases occurring in the Kern County area, and to forestall any adverse public criticism, it is recommended that two Spanish-speaking Agents be temporarily assigned to the Sacramento Division from either the Los Angeles and/or San Francisco Divisions. Ke A separate memorandum regarding the Civil Rights. policy of the Bureau is being prepared. nn “oa MA, ie aoe ™ 7 2,- 7. t . + Fe, ~ yt