About 70 people march down Chavez Drive in Flint to celebrate the accomplishments of Cesar Chavez and his fight for farm workers
Dan Reyes of Flint, left, and his daughter Tina, 16, right, listen and hold flags and a picture of Cesar Chavez right before a march to remember Cesar Chavez in front of the University of Michigan-Flint’s Harding Mott University Center on Saturday afternoon. Flint was the first city in the United States to name a street after Chavez back in 1987. (
FLINT, Michigan — Chancellor of the University of Michigan Flint challenged a group of people Saturday to be great leaders like Cesar Chavez.
About 70 people participated in the Cesar Chavez March to honor Chavez, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union and fought for better safeguards against pesticides for farm workers and the food they harvested.
“He was obviously a great leader and a great contributor,” Chancellor Ruth Person said. “I would like to challenge you. … What are you doing to emulate his leadership? I ask you to join all of us in being a leader in our nation.”
Chavez was known for his peaceful marches and rallies to gain national support in his fight.
Saturday’s march, which traveled down parts of Chavez Avenue, also recognized Flint as the first city in the country to name a street after Chavez in 1987. The march happens the last Saturday of March to celebrate Chavez’ birthday, which is March 31.
Students from Youth Leadership Genesee walked in the front of the group holding flags from different countries, such as Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Fenton High School Junior Cheyenne Knox, 17, said she the march teaches people how to except different cultures and what they stand for.
“We believe in diversity and the rights of other cultures,” Knox said. “I know he was a great leader.”
Art Reyes, chairman of the Cesar Chavez March Committee, yelled in a blow horn as the group traveled down Chavez Avenue “To all of us seeking quality and justice let them know.”
“Si se Puede,” was the response, translating to “Yes we can.”
Art Reyes’ son, Art Reyes III, said that was the call of the farm workers during the time Chavez was fighting for their rights.
The march symbolizes what the justice he sought then and the justice that people are still fighting for today, he said.
“What Cesar Chavez really did was fight for seeing justice and gave a voice to the voiceless. That fight isn’t over yet,” said Art Reyes III, the Genesee County representative for the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan.
Marchers also walked with the American and Local 651 United Auto Workers flags blowing in the wind.
Olita Tsatoke, 60, of Grand Blanc and James Gallegos, 64, of Grand Blanc, both Local 651 UAW members, joined the march to represent union workers.
Tsatoke said it’s really important to celebrate what Chavez accomplished in his life.
“Red, yellow, black and white, we’re all united,” she said. “We wanted to come and do something to show our support.”
Juan Cantu of Pontiac holds the Cuban flag and prays with a crowd right before a march to remember Cesar Chavez in front of the University of Michigan-Flint’s Harding Mott University Center on Saturday afternoon. Flint was the first city in the United States to name a street after Chavez back in 1987. (Joseph Tobianski | The Flint Journal)
