Families affected by current immigration laws, farm workers and community leaders are set to march on Sunday in a continuing effort to urge lawmakers to pass a new immigration process that would allow the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.to legalize their status.
Thousands of people are expected to participate in the march for immigration reform and to honor the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers of America. Chavez's birthday is a holiday celebrated in eight states across the nation on March 31, including California. Chavez died 20 years ago.
The nearly three-mile march will depart from St. Anthony Mary Claret Church in Fresno. The Fresno march, sponsored by the UFW, Campesina Radio Network, UFW Foundation and the Central Coast Coalition for Immigration Reform, is part of the UFW's national campaign "Con la Union de Campesinos Tendremos Papeles" (With the United Farm Workers We Will Have Documents).
Music, food, and entertainment will follow the march. A series of events and marches are also planned in other California cities, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Washington, D.C. within the next few months.
The UFW is currently in negotiations with several major growers associations, along with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, to ensure Congress approves the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act (AgJOBS) or includes language that addresses farm workers needs as part of any immigration reform legislation. AgJOBS is a bipartisan approach and supported by agricultural employers, who have worked on this legislation with the UFW for a decade. The bill would give career farm workers presently in the U.S. and who have been contributing to our country the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture
The March is set to start at 2 p.m. Sunday at Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church, 2494 S Chestnut Ave., Fresno.
California State University, Stanislaus will hold its 18th annual Cesar Chavez Celebration on March 27. Events will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the university's quad and then an evening program will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the university's Event Center.
The evening program will include a keynote address by Armando Elenes, National Vice President of United Farm Workers.
All events are free of charge and open to the public. Free parking is available in Lot 11. For more information call 667-3982.
The M.E.Ch.A Club of Modesto Junior College will be holding a Cesar Chavez Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 on the East Campus Quad, located at 435 College Ave., in Modesto.
The Cesar Chavez Celebration will include influential speakers, music, and entertainment; vendors will offer authentic arts, crafts, jewelry and other items for sale. Carne asada and chicken will also be served with rice, beans and salsa for the price of $4.
Although the event is free and open to the public, parking passes are $1 and can be obtained at various ticket dispensers located in the student parking lots.
