Cesar E. Chavez Walk Los Angeles
Saturday, April 17, a.m. in East L.A.
Six years after his death, thousands of Chavez followers honor the legendary UFW founder by marching to continue his work
To mark the sixth anniversary of his death, thousands of Latinos and other followers of Cesar Chavez will walk in East Los Angeles Saturday to remember the legendary farm labor leader and support the movement he founded.
Among those leading the five-kilometer walk will be Chavez’s widow, Helen; his son, Paul; his successor as United Farm Workers president, Arturo Rodriguez; the union’s co-founder, Dolores Huerta; actresses Salma Hayek, Constance Marie and Evilina Fernandez; and actors Esai Morales and Enrique Castillo and film director Gregory Nava; as well as twenty state lawmakers and city and county elected officials.
The Cesar Chavez Walk begins and ends at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Ave. and Soto St. in Boyle Heights. It is being orgainized by the UFW and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, a non-profit organization formed by the Chavez family and the union to promote his legacy and philosophy.
Since Chavez’s death on April 23, 1993, parks, schools and streets in cities across the nation have been named for him. In 1994, President Clinton posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
nation’s highest civilian honor. Chavez remains an American hero for millions of Latinos and people from all walks of life, most of whom will never work on a farm.
Major sponsors of Saturday’s walk to honor Chavez are KMEX-TV, KLAX radio, KABC-TV, MEGA 100 radio, KVEA-TV, La Opinion, KNBC-TV, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and I.A.T.S.E. Western Region & Local 33.
Who: Thousands of walkers led by Cesar Chavez’s widow, Helen; his son, Paul; his successor, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez; and union co-founder Dolores Huerta.
What: Marking the sixth anniversary of Chavez’s death by remembering the legendary farm worker leader.
When: Press availability: 10:45 a.m.; program: 11 a.m.; walk begins: 11:45 a.m.; program: 1:45 p.m. –Saturday, April 17, 1999
Where: Walk begins and ends at intersection of Cesar Chavez Ave. and Soto St. in Boyle Heights, which will be closed off to traffic. (Parking for accredited press on Soto St. between Cincinnati and Wabash and Cesar Chavez Ave.)
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