For the 31st year, the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Committee San Fernando Valley (CCCCSFV), with support from the nonprofit Pueblo y Salud (PYS), is preserving the memory of the late labor leader and civil rights activist by holding the Cesar Chavez March for Justice, on Sunday, March 17.
“It’s to honor the legacy of Cesar Chavez, one of our most courageous labor leaders, founder of the UFW [United Farm Workers],” said Alex Reza, a longstanding member of the local commemorative committee.
“But to bring his legacy into contemporary issues, we are advocating that our economic system recognize how important working people are – including farm workers, nurses, teachers, auto workers, gardeners,” said Reza, adding that they have “been key to generating a tremendous amount of wealth for the nation.”
The organizers are also bringing attention to immigration reform and highlighting the contributions of the 11 million undocumented residents in the United States.
“We want people to recognize immigrants make major contributions,” said Reza. “That we need those workers.”
The Cesar Chavez March for Justice will begin with a 10 a.m. rally at Pacoima Charter Elementary School, followed by a two-mile march to Ritchie Valens Park, where a cultural arts festival will be held from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. with musical entertainment and resource booths.
Rally speakers include Northeast San Fernando Valley politicians including, Congressmember Tony Cárdenas; State Sen. Caroline Menjivar; Assemblymember Luz Rivas; Councilmember Monica Rodriguez; and Councilmember Imelda Padilla. Additional speakers will include Lizbeth Padilla, a member of CSUN Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA), a UFW union representative and members of the United Teachers of Los Angeles union (UTLA).
Throughout the years, PYS has been the fiscal sponsor and has provided logistical support for the march. This year, they did everything to advertise it from social media posts, radio spots, passing out flyers and hanging up posters.
“We’re trying to revitalize it,” said Ruben Rodriguez, executive director of PYS.
When the march began after the passing of Chavez, the community was passionate about and actively involved in the movement – not only the UFW labor movement but the larger Chicano/a movement from which groups like MEChA were born.
“All this [social justice activity] is not in the air as it was for people my age,” said Rodriguez, adding that the march is not only to preserve the history of Chavez but more importantly, “to involve younger people in social justice issues that are still impacting our communities.”
The city of San Fernando was the first to organize a march in 1993 immediately after Chavez died and erected one of the largest memorials in the nation. Located on Truman Street with a fountain, a mural that illustrates the farmworker’s movement and a large bronze statue of Chavez, it has been a regular walking field trip for local school children.
Over the years, however, attendance for the annual march has dwindled. But organizers are hopeful to increase participation and invigorate youth around issues that can impact their future — labor rights, income inequality, access to medical care, immigration and war — which continue to have major implications on our society.
“I’m not sure there’s any other organization in the state of California that has worked at keeping Cesar Chavez’s legacy alive and relevant to the issues of today, as our little group has,” said Reza.