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Parade
and fair honor Cesar Chavez
Mexican American labor leader Cesar Chavez made his name fighting for
the rights of farmworkers.
On Saturday, painters and tapers, glaziers and carpenters were among
those who turned out for a parade and street fair in San Francisco's
Mission District to honor Chavez's life. The workers said Chavez's
fighting spirit carried added resonance in today's recessionary times.
"People who sell their labor for a living need now, more than ever, to
stand together in solidarity," said 83-year-old Denis Mulligan, a
carpenter for 61 years. "Cesar Chavez is a hero to me. He made
sacrifices to improve the lives of the working class."
The parade and festival, marking the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez, born
March 31, 1927, drew hundreds of people and support from 150 community
organizations. Participants gathered before noon across from Dolores
Park and made their way to 24th and Bryant Streets.
John Garibaldi, 62, said he'd "been pounding nails since 1969," and
turned out for the parade because he wanted to "show respect for the
working people."
Carpenter Bob Mattacola, 56, who has been working the trade for 35
years, recently returned to work after four months of anxious
unemployment.
"I started working again two weeks ago," Mattacola said. "You realize
how important your job is when you get to the point where you can't pay
your bills."
Azalia Merrell, 36, also a carpenter, said Chavez sacrificed for workers
who were struggling to put food on the table. Chavez, whose family lived
for a period in San Jose, was a founder of the National Farm Workers
Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. He died on
April 23, 1993.
"His work and legacy is about spotlighting the plight of hard-working
people," Merrell said.
A street fair began where the parade ended. Several blocks on 24th
Street were closed for music, dancing and vendors. A side street quickly
filled with gleaming lowrider cars, many of which had been a part of the
parade.
Tony Ibarra, who was born in Mexico City, stood next to his gunmetal
gray, six-cylinder, 1954 Chevy. He said he takes time each year to honor
Cesar Chavez.
"He gave a lot of people a lot of hope," said Ibarra. "It's a message
that is important today, as people are really struggling."
Don Mabutas worked on his 1951 Chevy Skyline DeLuxe Sedan, which he has
been tricking out for two decades.
As he polished his car's chrome floater hubcaps - shaped in the form of
a woman's body - Mabutas said the relevance of the day was not lost on
him.
"I'm a construction worker," he said. "I'm like everyone else. I'm
paycheck to paycheck. Trying to stay afloat, to take care of my family,
to keep the faith. That's what Cesar Chavez stood for."
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