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2-mile march, speeches mark Cesar Chavez's life
Co-founder of union is among 175 at Oxnard event
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Photos by Richard Quinn / Special to The Star People march on Oxnard's Third Street bridge, above, during a rally Sunday to celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez. At top right, Aurora Mendoza carries an American flag as she marches at the event. At right, Dolores Huerta, center, co-founder of the United Farm Workers with Chavez, also takes part.
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About 175 people celebrated Cesar Chavez's life in Oxnard on Sunday with a march and speeches about the difference he made in workers' lives.
The march started at El Camino del Sol Park and ended two miles later at the Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center, where Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers, and Arturo Rodriguez, the organization's president, spoke.
Juan Ponce 17, showed up because his parents and grandparents worked in the strawberry fields, and he wanted to honor the effect that Chavez had on their lives.
"They wouldn't have had any of the benefits they had if it weren't for him," said Ponce, a senior at Oxnard High School.
The event was organized by the United Farm Workers and the Cesar Chavez March Committee, which included representatives from organizations throughout the county.
Marchers wore red T-shirts and carried red flags from the UFW saying, "Si se puede" — "Yes, we can" — the union's slogan.
Bill Terry, 77, carried a worn photo of Chavez.
"He was dedicated to social and economic justice," said Terry, who lives in Oxnard. "He made a difference for every person of color."
Inlakech, an Oxnard-based organization that teaches kids theater, dance and music, had performers march in the parade and then take to the stage at the center.
Huerta, speaking in Spanish, told the audience members gathered at the center that if they organize, they have the power to improve their lives.
Rodriguez spoke about legislation proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would provide additional legal protections for farmworkers under certain conditions.
"The legacy of Cesar Chavez is not just naming schools and streets for him, though that's good," Rodriguez said after his speech, which also was in Spanish.
"It's for workers to keep fighting, keep working to improve their conditions."
Posted by iseepeeple on April 21, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by CAUCASIOD
"Farm workers need all the help they can get."
Scuse me? I think they have gotten more breaks in this county than most. They need to build a bridge and get over it...just the way they are getting over that 3rd street bridge there in the Star picture. Cesar Chavez was no hero in my book.
Posted by BorderCrossedMe on April 21, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
of course not iseepeeple, it's probably because your a Anglo Saxton Biggot...
Posted by iseepeeple on April 21, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah..I was expecting that. Nope...I am a Native American who happens to not follow the sheep over the cliff. It never takes long for the name calling to begin. You should never assume things you know nothing about. Just like I wouldn't assume the "Border Crossed Me" is your real name. That could actually mean that you are an anglo-saxton biggot French Canadian...and we wouldn't want THAT...now would we?
Posted by BorderCrossedMe on April 21, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually if you really want to know I'm a Native American/Mexican if that makes any sense to you. I can trace back my family blood lines to when Texas was Mexico. So you can see why Cesar Chavez is a hero in MINE and many families like mine who are field workers but not illegals like everyone thinks.
Posted by villa805 on April 23, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"iseepeeple" You sound so educated, but not smart enough to know that no matter how high you build that bridge we WILL find a way. We have for so many years so what makes you thing that your comments or your people will stop us.I personally was at that March and I didn't see you there trying to stop me or my people. Behind the scenes you have a lot to say but you were nowhere to be found on that Sunday afternoon. Let me remind you that we are not illegals we are the workers doing all the dirty work that you can't do.
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