March and dinner to honor Cesar Chavez
If you’re going
What: March and dinner to honor the late civil rights and farmworker advocate Cesar Chavez.
When: March begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner. Program concludes at 8 p.m.
Where: Meet in front of North Valley Bank at Gateway Shopping Center in Anderson. Marchers will walk to the Anderson Community Center for a pazole meal, Mexican dancing and tribute to Chavez.
Cost: Dinner is $5 for adults and $3 for children; proceeds go to the Northern Hispanic Latino Coalition’s scholarship program.
ANDERSON — North state residents will gather this evening to honor the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.
“We are hoping for a big turnout,” said Theresa Bible, chair of the Anderson-based Northern Hispanic Latino Coalition. Participants will gather at the Gateway Shopping Center, then march to the community center for a traditional meal and program.
In 2000, California designated March 31 — the labor leader’s birthday — as Cesar Chavez Day. Seven other states observe the holiday.
Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, served in the U.S. Navy before becoming an advocate for farmworkers. Through peaceful demonstrations and boycotts, he became a respected leader who fought for fair labor practices and workers’ rights.
He founded the National Farm Workers organization, later known as the United Farm Workers.
“Cesar Chavez was a great inspiration to a lot of Hispanic people who worked in the fields,” Bible said. “(He taught people) how important it was to be proud of what you did.”
In Shasta County, the march is in its fifth year. At the community center, diners will enjoy pazole, a traditional Mexican soup with hominy and pork.
Proceeds from the dinner will go to the coalition’s scholarship program.
Reporter Janet O’Neill can be reached at 225-8216 or joneill@redding.com.