VISALIA TIMES-DELTA March 29, 2007
Farm workers to march in memory of Cesar Chavez It's been more than 50 years since Cesar Chavez got his start as a labor advocate trying to improve the harsh conditions endured by farm laborers. On Saturday, the day commemorating his work, Chavez's United Farm Workers union will host a march and rally to honor him and raise awareness about UFW's present-day efforts. “We are trying to convey that people are still waiting for immigration reform," said Armando Elenes, the external organizing director for the UFW. "We need it more than ever before." After working for a community service group for 10 years, Chavez and his wife moved to Delano, where he started the National Farm Worker Association in 1962. Notable protests in his career include a 300-mile pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento in 1966, the 1967 boycott of table grapes and several fasts lasting several weeks. Visalia Unified School District Board Member Juan Guerrero remembers when Chavez visited his family in Cutler-Orosi after his father was in an industrial accident. "I just remember he was a very compassionate person," said Guerrero, who was 8 at the time. "He was very low key yet passionate about his beliefs. It was all based in non-violence." Saturday's Bakersfield event will feature speakers Arturo Rodriguez, the president of UWF; Chavez's son, Paul Chavez and Congressman Howard Berman. Elenes said he expects between 5,000 and 10,000 people to attend the march and rally. "We urge everyone to come out and join us and honor Cesar," Elenes said. "He worked for farm workers and impacted millions and millions of lives across the Unites States."
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