500 turn out for Cesar Chavez march despite continuous rain
Of course, there were chants of "Si, se puede!" (Yes, we can.)
But marching for miles in the rain in the annual Cesar Chavez Day march provoked some other, more seasonal, chants, such as, "Llueve, llueve, el pueblo no se mueve," and its English counterpart, "The rain, the rain, the people will remain."
Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association a half-century ago, in 1962. It became the United Farm Workers or UFW.
Sacramento’s two-hour march in continuous rain did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the 500 people who went from Southside park to Cesar Chavez Plaza and back.
"This is awesome," said Helen Peralez of Sacramento. "We get to represent what we believe in and fight for our rights. We don’t care if it’s raining or what."
The beliefs were manifested on placards and signs for labor justice, an end to immigration crackdowns, the Occupy movement, money for education and the fight against genetically modified foods.
The event was sponsored by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.
The march was headed by a 50-person contingent of Aztec dancers who – many bare-legged, bare-armed and barefoot – danced energetically along the three-mile parade route.
"You get warmer," said dancer Daniel Diaz, who danced barefoot the whole way, wearing feathered regalia and carrying a decorative shield.
It was not, he said, the first time he had done it in the rain. Last year’s parade was also rained upon.
It was the first, however, for Stephanie Guzmán of Woodland, who kept her high-stepping and energetic squats going for the whole march.
"It gives you more adrenaline," she said of the cold, damp weather.
Nevertheless, she wore a short jacket over her dancer’s costume, and a button with a photo of Chavez.
Farmworker leader Chavez would have been 85 years old Saturday. He died in 1993 and his birthday became a state holiday in 2000.
Toward the back of the crowd was a contingent wearing hooded sweatshirts and jackets, and chanting – in a call-and-response fashion – for a cause that has only existed in the past month.
"I am," the leader shouted.
"Trayvon," the rest responded.
It continued: "You are." "Trayvon." "We are." "Trayvon."
Trayvon Martin was the unarmed teen shot in Florida by a neighborhood watch worker.
Activists have decried it as an injustice, given that the shooter was never arrested, although the killing is being investigated.
The marchers kept spirits up on the circuit and, rather than dispersing when they returned to Southside, they crowded around to watch Guzmán, Diaz and the others continue to dance in the downpour.
Also watching from under an awning was State Sen. Darrell Steinberg, who was scheduled to speak to the crowd.