SAN ANTONIO – University student groups, nonprofits organizations and many others will march together in honor of Cesar E. Chavez’s legacy at the annual March for Justice in San Antonio on Saturday.
Ernest J. Martinez, the son of Cesar E. Legacy & Educational Foundation’s founder, will be leading this year’s event. He is the chair for CECLEF, which aims to boost civic participation and scholarship among San Antonio youth, in the spirit of Chavez.
Today, Chavez is regarded as one of the most influential civil rights activists and farm labor reformers. The first-generation Mexican American was born in 1927 and labored in California agricultural fields throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, according to the Cesar Chavez Foundation. The experience led him to organize for better protections of farm workers before founding the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. The association has since transformed into the United Farm Workers.
While organizing on behalf of UFW, Chavez visited San Antonio, building community and unifying leaders in the city, according to CECLEF. The tradition has continued each spring for the past 28 years as the foundation has worked to unify San Antonians in a similar fashion.
The march will begin at 9 a.m. with speakers kicking off the event an hour before taking to the streets. The route begins at the intersection between Guadalupe Street and Brazos, and will continue on for two miles until reaching its final destination at Hemisfair Civic Park.
At the park, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy music, try some new foods and hear from special guest speakers at the post-march celebration.
Bus transportation services will be provided for attendees going to Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice and back to the Alamodome, starting at 8 a.m. Organizers encourage attendees to use the bus service or car pool, as various surrounding roads will be closed.
For more event details, you can visit the City of San Antonio's website.