Celebrating an American Hero – Cesar Chavez

by Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, Independent Journalist

The Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Committee of Denver (CCPJCD) would like to cordially invite neighborhood residents to participate in the 12th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Peace and Justice march and celebration on April 6. This year we are elated to work with Denver City and County workers in celebrating the official renovation of the Cesar E. Chavez Park located on 41st and Tennyson. As you take an evening walk by the park, you will see the beautiful transformation that has taken place. Chavez’ iconography and working class philosophy is not only permanently inscribed in the brick but also in the consciousness of North Denver residents.

Per Chavez’ tradition, the celebration includes a Mass at 9:15 a.m. at the chapel on the Regis University campus. Fr. Tomas Fraile from St. Cajetan’s Church will be presiding over this ceremony. Marchers will assemble on Lowell Blvd., following the mass, and work their way to the park, with a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe leading the march. Incidentally, Chavez aligned his social justice work with many religious denominations. This year’s celebration at the park includes a blessing by Aztec Danzantes and a ribbon cutting ceremony by Denver officials to celebrate the renovation of the project. Keynote speaker Mariam Pena, Executive Director of the Colorado Progressive Coalition will share words of inspiration and struggle. Poets will share spoken word. Food and drinks will be available and a Jazz Festival with a premier performance by The Mighty Nice Band will take place following the ceremonies.

As a 20th century leader, Cesar E. Chavez left behind a legacy that honors farm workers whose sweat and toil in the production process, places food on America’s tables. He believed that irrespective of a person’s place in society, each and every human being deserved respect. As a human rights activist, he never reduced human beings to objects; he honored the inherent dignity of each person and worked with groups from many facets of our society. He aspired to build a better world for everyone. He sacrificed his life for the benefit of others. To paraphrase one of his philosophical beliefs, “the greatest gift one person could bestow upon another was sacrifice, that is, giving of one self in the betterment of humanity.”

In 1966, Chavez with his ally, famed national organizer Dolores Huerta, founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) Organization. Farmworkers had been abandoned by law; the Wagner Act that essentially guaranteed, “Employees the right of self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain,” but provisionally denied farm workers these fundamental rights, keeping them powerless at the whims of corporate agribusiness.

The task of building a union was a gargantuan undertaking. The farm worker guru was aware that money drives systems. He recognized fear as a precursor for human behavior. When it festered in the soul, it prevented human beings from acting upon their world. Chavez leadership demonstrated strength in conquering trepidations that prevented farmworkers in struggling for social justice. His spiritual guidance to Americans during the grape and lettuce boycotts was an inspiration that justice could be achieved. Through determination, struggle and the use of nonviolent tactics, Chavez and Huerta were victorious.

Chavez believed that the maintenance of faith in struggle was critical. His faith provided him with strength during turbulent times when nefarious practices were used in an attempt to derail the union. Chavez’ philosophy of non-violence, consistent with other great leaders like Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, demonstrated that only through non-violence would peace triumph. Historical precedence had been defied; a group of ragtag farmworkers had demonstrated that big money could be defeated.

The price Chavez and union followers paid is plagued with blood, sweat and tears. Chavez is remembered for a 300 mile march from Delano to Sacramento to address legislators on the continued plight of the farmworkers. The 112 mile march from Pueblo, Colorado to Denver organized by Magdaleno “Len” Avila, a captain in the grape and lettuce boycotts in Colorado, demonstrates that Coloradans were instrumental forces that eventually led to a state holiday.

Chavez’ fasts, one of which lasted 30 days, demonstrated his strong conviction towards spirituality and non-violence. When it finally came to an end, he was joined by other great American leaders including Bobby Kennedy and Jesse Jackson.

He left this world but his legacy remains. On April 6th we honor his struggle with a march that symbolizes the power that the powerless can achieve in achieving social justice in this world.