Campus
Latino groups honor Caesar Chavez
By Angelica de la Pena
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and United Migrant Students (UMS) celebrated
at the University Student Union Ball Room in honor of Cesar Chavez’s legacy
Thursday.
Chavez, a leading Mexican-American activist for migrant workers, founded the
United Farm Workers Union in 1962. The organization fought against the injustices
migrant workers were facing. They demanded equal rights, better working conditions
and better pay.
Chavez, along with co-founder Dolores Huerta, drew national attention with his
diligent leadership and non-violent tactics, which included the Delano grape
boycott and the 340-mile march from Delano to Sacramento in 1966.
“
Many students on campus are not aware of Chavez’s honorable contributions,” said
Cindy Lara, a senior English major. “They see Friday as just another
day off, but this celebration is to remind people and also help them become
aware of Chavez’s sacrifices.”
The celebration began at the MacIntosh building with a march of students, faculty
and staff who followed behind a mariachi group, calling out for students to join
them. The march ended at the USU Ballroom where the ceremony was to take place.
“
The march was to attract more students to join our celebration,” said
Rafael Gonzalez, member of CAMP and UMS. “The whole purpose of this celebration
is to promote awareness of his legacy and create unity within the Latino community.”
The ballroom began to fill with students, family members, faculty and staff as
the performance from Mariachi El Dorado continued. James Sauceda, a communication
studies professor and director of the Multicultural Center, introduced the audience
by reading a telegram Martin Luther King Jr. sent to Chavez from in 1968.
“
Our separate struggles are really one — a struggle for freedom, for dignity
and for humanity,” Sauceda read.
“ You
and your valiant fellow workers have
demonstrated your commitment to righting
grievous wrongs forced upon exploited
people.”
José Plaza, student keynote speaker, reminded the audience the celebration
was also in honor of many others who influenced Chavez’s migrant workers
movement, such as King and Mahatma Ghandi.
“
We’re paying tribute to a man who was an important advocate for workers
rights,” said Rene Cabada, a graduate student. “I’m here
as a volunteer from CAMP and a supporter of this organization because I
feel it is a reflection of Chavez’s legacy.”
CAMP is a program designed for students who either come from migrant families
or were also migrant workers themselves. The program offers financial, academic
and personal support to students.
“
CAMP has been a great experience for me,” said Roman Rangel, a freshman
math major. “I now want to give back to my community and be a teacher
for migrant students.”
“
I am very proud of these students,” said CAMP Project Director Vivian
Barrera. “Many of these students have worked in the fields or have
parents who work in the agricultural industry and they recognize the importance
Chavez’s contributions has had on them and their families.”
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