César Chávez Anniversary Celebrates Struggle for Workers' Rights

Marking the 81st birth anniversary of César Chávez on March 31, 2008, labor unions held an evening of Aztec dancing, songs of workers' struggles, food, arts and crafts, and politics. While there were many celebrations of César Chávez's birthday in the San José, the celebration at SEIU Local 521 focused on the continuing struggles for workers' and immigrants' rights.

Recalling César Chávez's pioneering leadership in organizing farm workers in California, Louie Rocha of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) recounted how Chávez's non-violent principles of struggle are relevant to the labor movement today.

Adrián Vargas drew attention to the May Day immigrants' rights march of 2006 in San Jose on which he has produced the documentary film "El Gigante Awakens." He led the band Conjunto Libertad in performing music of struggle. Many of the songs were sung by farm workers themselves during César Chávez's time.

The celebration was organized by Ray Baeza of the Latino Caucus of SEIU Local 521. It was also cosponsored by SEIU Local 1877, SEIU Local 1000, CWA Local 9423, Unite Here! Local 19, Strengthening Our Lives, and Comité César Chávez.

Teresa Castellanos announced plans for the immigration rights march to start at Story and King Roads on May 1, 2008 at 4 pm.

Salvador "Chava" Bustamante of SEIU Local 1877 reminded the audience of the importance of getting Hispanic U.S. citizens to register to vote. He indicated that in Fresno County, where 180,000 votes were cast in the last election, there are 98,000 Hispanic U.S. citizens who did not registered to vote. "Imagine the difference they could make in the next election," he said.

The evening finished with people singing and dancing in a single giant circle of unity.