CHAVEZ LEGACY MARCHES ON IN L.A.Byline: Staff and Wire Services Thousands of union activists and their supporters marched through downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or on Saturday to celebrate the life of labor leader Cesar Chavez Noun 1. Cesar Chavez - United States labor leader who organized farm workers (born 1927) Cesar Estrada Chavez, Chavez on what would have been his 79th birthday. Chavez, a farmworker and co-founder of the United Farm Workers The United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is a labor union that evolved from unions founded in 1962 by César Chávez, Philip Vera Cruz, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong. This union changed from a workers' rights organization that helped workers get unemployment insurance to that of union, died poor but world renowned in 1993. Saturday's march - involving a crowd that organizers estimated at 5,000 - started at Olvera Street Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is otherwise known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and is a department within the city. , then moved through downtown Los Angeles and back to Olvera Street for a festival with music and food. UFW UFW United Farm Workers (union) UFW United Factory Warehouse President Arturo Rodriguez said the celebration was extra special this year because of a wave of pro-immigration protests over the last two weeks. ``It seems like a very exciting time right now and it's a great way to celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez, because he was a peaceful activist,'' Rodriguez said. Organizers said the eighth annual Cesar Chavez Walk spotlighted the union leader's ``legacy of nonviolence and respect for working people, including farmworkers.'' Chavez's granddaughter Christine Chavez welcomed Saturday's crowd. Democratic gubernatorial candidates Steve Westly Steven Paul Westly (born August 27, 1957, in Arcadia, California) is an American businessman and politician. He was the State Controller of California from 2003 to 2007 and was one of the top two candidates in the Democratic primary for Governor of California in the 2006 election. and Phil Angelides joined the union activists and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also addressed the crowd. Other participants included other Chavez family members, City Councilman Jose Huizar and actor Esai Morales. The rain kept some people away in the morning, but Rodriguez said organizers were pleased with the turnout, which included busloads of students. ``The greatest tribute to Cesar Chavez is the thousands of young people who walk to show their commitment to continuing his legacy,'' Rodriguez said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, front center, is one of about 5,000 people who marched through downtown Los Angeles Saturday to honor Cesar Chavez. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
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