Marchers in annual Cesar Chavez march take to street named in activist’s honor
Pablo Lopez Jr., shown here carrying the American flag, said it was an honor to be a part of the march that was honoring his late father. Lopez was slain in his Flint home last year. "This was something my father did every year for the past 25 years." Lopez Jr. said. "It was important to him, like it was to Cesar Chavez to help the farm workers. It was something my dad was passionate about."FLINT, MI – The annual Cesar Chavez marchhonoring the activist’s legacy and birthday today also honored fallen laborer’s rights activist Pablo Lopez. Lopez was was slain in his Flint home last year.
The march started around noon on Saturday, March 31, at the University of Michigan – Flint University Center.
The 150 marchers sang songs and carried flags in support of the work Chavez has done not only for workers, but as a humanitarian as well down the drive that bears his name.
"We honor the legacy that Cesar Chavez left, which was nonviolence and putting himself on the line." Said Art Reyes, chairman for the Cesar Chavez march. "His belief was that if you were poisoning the food when it was in the fields, then there was just no way of knowing the foods would be safe at our tables. He was as much a human rights activist as he was a labor activist."
Pablo Lopez Jr. said it was an honor to be a part of the march that was honoring his late father.
"This was something my father did every year for the past 25 years." Lopez Jr. said. "It was important to him, like it was to Cesar Chavez to help the farm workers. It was something my dad was passionate about."
Lopez, 68, often frequented the annual Cesar Chavez march that made its way down Chavez drive in Flint. He also often marched with Chavez, because their messages were so similar, said Reyes.
The investigation into the murder of Lopez is still open.
"We’re hoping that whoever it was that committed this horrible crime will realize the person whose life they took had a great deal of meaning to a great deal of people."
This march not only marks Chavez’s 85th birthday, but also the 25th anniversary since Chavez drive was named him. Flint was the first city to honor Chavez with a street naming Reyes said.
Later this evening in continuation with the march, there will be a dinner and dance held at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Coldwater road in Flint. Lopez and his family will be honored at the event.
Tickets to the dance and dinner are $25 per person and $40 per couple.
Amanda can be reached at 810-875-2208 or temery@mlive.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @AmandaEmeryFJ or on Facebook.