By The United Migrant Student Association will celebrate the legacy of Cesar Chavez Thursday afternoon through a campus march symbolizing the 340-mile march that Chavez led from Delano to Sacramento in 1966.
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, demanding equal rights, better working conditions and better pay. Chavez organized farm workers from the 1960s until his death in 1993.
The statewide observance lands on Chavez’s birthday of March 31, but Cal State Long Beach’s spring break will leave the campus closed March 29 to April 2. The campus celebration will take place in the Southwest Terrace and will include musical and dance performances, guest speakers and entertainment.
“This event is an important commemoration of Cesar Chavez’s memory and his accomplishments for the community,” said Tina Thi Phan, public relations chair of UMSA. “The whole purpose of this organization is to promote farm-worker rights and issues, which is exactly what Cesar Chavez did during his life.”
UMSA members hope attendees learn about the sacrifices Chavez made and create unity within the campus community.
The celebration begins at 10:45 a.m. March 25, where hundreds of students are expected to march on campus. The march is a reflection of Chavez paving the way for Latino civil rights through union demands to the state government and to bring national attention to the cause of the United Farm Workers. Different genres of music will be played during the march, such as Tamborazo “Pancho Villa” from East Los Angeles.
“In the past, there has always been a mariachi with the march. This year, we decided to go with a tamborazo in order to make the event more traditional,” Phan said.
Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. with guest speakers and a dance performance by Alma Latina, a dance group from Los Angeles with a few members from CSULB. The opening remark will be given by Jose Moreno, a professor in the Chicano and Latino studies department. Other speakers include freshman film major Sandra Jimenez and Andrew Espinoza, director of the Educational Opportunity Program.
“To make the Southwest Terrace look lively, we will have balloon arcs and streamers,” Phan said. “There will also be an altar in place as a tribute to not only Cesar Chavez, but to all of the migrant workers who have passed away working in the fields.”
Phan said the annual event maintains the same basic structure, but every year the organization has different entertainment and guest speakers.
Last year’s event had more than 300 guests. UMSA is hoping for an even larger turnout this year.
