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Marchers dwindle; commitment doesn't
By
GALT - Jessica Vizcarra, 16, began to feel the effects of walking nearly
a dozen miles in two days.
"Even with my feet hurting, I'm committed to this," Vizcarra said on Day
Two of the pilgrimage destined for Sacramento. Marchers walked for two
reasons: to pay homage to the pregnant 17-year-old farm worker Maria
Jimenez, who died more than two weeks ago from heatstroke, and to ask
state officials for increased labor law enforcement. The
pilgrimage started Sunday in Lodi with about 500 participants; most were
farm workers who are represented by United Farm Workers. They came from
throughout California. After walking six miles on Sunday, the majority
of the walkers were bused back to their home cities so they could return
to their jobs Monday. The
crowd dwindled to 18 people committed to walking the entire way to the
state Capitol. The small pack continued Monday from Galt to Thornton,
where they spent the night. The group planned to leave today from Our
Lady of Sorrows Chapel in Thornton after a prayer service and planned to
arrive at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Sacramento by evening.
"I'm going to keep walking. My mom always says I'm young and I should be
able to do anything," said Vizcarra, a Lodi High School student on
summer break. "At age 17, she (Jimenez) came here for a better life. I'm
just so lucky that I'm able get an education."
Religious pilgrimages are a traditional practice in Mexico. A pilgrimage
is a long journey to one or more sacred places or to an important
shrine. It has great moral significance to those who place their
spiritual faith in the practice. It
is also a tradition adopted by the United Farm Workers, said Arturo
Rodriguez, the union's president. "We
look to God for strength and courage," Rodriguez said.
Florentino Bautista, Jimenez's boyfriend and the father of her unborn
child, said he wanted justice for Jimenez.
"Without her, nothing is the same," Bautista said as he walked along New
Hope Road. "I don't know if she sees what I'm doing, but I believe she
is content with it."
Rodriguez said he will announce a list of changes he proposes to
California's labor laws when the group arrives at the state Capitol. He
said the union is also helping Jimenez's family on possibly taking legal
action against contractor Merced Farm Labor and vineyard operator West
Coast Grape Farming.
While the two companies have declined to comment, Brad Lange, a Lodi
winery owner and vineyard manager, said local grape growers follow labor
laws.
"Everybody is saddened. We hope that your reading public won't brand the
whole industry as not doing their jobs," said Lange, who has been in
operation for 35 years.
"Every person has a responsibility to step back and say, 'What can we
learn from this?' " Lange added.
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