Salinas, CA– Families affected by current immigration laws, farm workers and community leaders are set to march Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 11 a.m.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 31st, including California. Chavez died 20 years ago.
The three-mile march will depart from Cesar Chavez Park, 268 N. Madeira Ave., and will end back at the park. The Salinas 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). It is part of a series of events and marches that are also planned in other California cities, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Washington, D.C. within the next few months. Music, food, and entertainment will follow the march.
The UFW continues to work with key Republican and Democratic lawmakers, such as Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marco Rubio (R-FLA), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), 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. The bill would give career farm workers presently in the U.S., who have been contributing to our country, the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture.
WHAT: March calling for immigration reform and celebration of Cesar Chavez’s legacy
WHEN: Sunday, March 24, 2013
TIME: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WHERE: Cesar Chavez Park, 268 N. Madeira Avenue, Salinas
WHO: Families affected by the current immigration system, farm workers and immigrant advocates
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