At least five groups of people–families and collections of individuals–came up to us on Thursday along the route of the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Now march between Le Grand and Merced to offer sodas, water and fruit. Four Anglo men, Oakies to the hilt, came out of their home on Santa Fe Ave. between Merced and Livingston to hand bottled waters to all of the marchers.
Entering Livingston late in the afternoon after a long, hot day on the highways, we were greeted by the city’s mayor, vice mayor and city manager at St. Jude’s Catholic Church on Franci Street. Many others also gathered to be with us from this small farming community that was often the scene of heated United Farm Workers strikes and organizing drives during the 1970s. Monsignor Harvey Fonseca, pastor at St. Jude’s, was there as well as veteran farm worker supporter Pastor Bill Ruth and is wife, Sue, from the local Lutheran Church in Livingston.
Altogether, there were about 125 at the after-march rally before we were given dinner and assigned to stay in different people’s homes.
Our spirits were high and our resolution firm as we gathered for Mass at 7 a.m. Friday at St.Jude’s along with dozens of Livingston residents before setting off on today’s journey from Livingston to Turlock. In front of the march each day farm workers carry the standard of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Arturo S. Rodriguez, President
United Farm Workers of America