Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of immigrants, farm workers and their supporters are expected to march through downtown Santa Rosa this afternoon as part of a statewide United Farm Workers campaign aimed at encouraging President Barack Obama to make good on his promise to change the nation’s immigration laws.

The march, part of the UFW’s annual celebration honoring Cesar Chavez, the union’s legendary founder, starts at noon in the parking lot of the Old Albertsons supermarket on Sebastopol Road.

From there, it winds through Historic Railroad Square and into Old Courthouse Square, where a rally will be held. Casimiro Alvarez, UFW regional director, said he expects several thousand participants.

"Before the election, President Obama sought our support and we gave it," said Alvarez. "We sent hundreds of farm workers to knock on doors for him in Colorado, a hard-fought state he ultimately won."

Alvarez said the UFW wants to send a strong message not only to President Obama, but also to his new Labor secretary, Hilda Solis, a longtime labor advocate and former Latina congresswoman.

He said the UFW understands that the current administration has been struggling to deal with an economic crisis. "But we don’t want him to forget about the reform he promised," said Alvarez.

Demonstrators also will be calling for an end to "immigration raids."

The route for today’s march is similar to that of previous UFW marches through downtown Santa Rosa. Participants will leave 665 Sebastopol Road at noon and make their way east on Sebastopol Road. From there, marchers will turn left on Olive Street to Wilson Street, right on Fifth Street, left on Morgan Street, right on Sixth Street, left on A Street, right on Seventh Street, right on B Street, left on Fourth Street and right on Mendocino Avenue.

"Our focus is to begin pushing and working together as a community for a just immigration reform," Alvarez said.

Last March 29, an estimated 1,500 demonstrators participated in the UFW’s march. They waved signs bearing the familiar UFW slogan, "Si Se Puede" (Yes we can) — a phrase that dominated Obama’s election campaign.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.