Fresno State’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) held its annual César Chávez commemoration at the Peace Garden to honor the civil rights activist for what would have been his 99th birthday on March 13.
The ceremony featured a Los Danzantes de Aztlán performance, a message and prayer from Peace Garden founder Sudarshan Kapoor and a speech from David Villarino Gonzalez, Chávez’s son-in-law.
“Like any leader of prominence, he would be very humbled by these efforts, but he never made it about him,” Villarino Gonzalez said.
In Villarino Gonzalez’ speech, he talked about Chávez’s history and the work that he did for farmers and Mexican-American rights.
He said the work that his father-in-law did gave farm workers the benefits they deserved, including medical benefits, workers’ compensation and even things like clean drinking water.
“The conditions in the fields that he began to organize against in 1962 were dramatically improved by the time he died 31 years later,” Villarino Gonzalez said. “Issues like no drinking water or toilets in the fields, no workers compensation available. You can imagine how bad the industry treated those workers.”
Villarino Gonzalez also talked about the work that the Chávez family continues to do, and urged students to continue the fight against oppressors of the present.
“If the legacy is to continue, it will be through the work of many of you that are here today,” Villarino Gonzalez said. “Students today need to understand that the only time people lose is when they quit. They’ve got to sit down and meet with themselves. Who are they? What do they stand for? What should the world look like? If they can make change and then make a plan, how are you going to do it? When are you going to do it?”
After Villarino Gonzalez spoke, Kapoor spoke about his experience with Chávez and the importance of his work.
“One of the most important things I feel that César Chávez brought was dignity and respect to the farm workers who were mistreated and abused in this country,” Kapoor said.
Kapoor also talked about the importance of the Peace Garden.
“The peace garden you are sitting in today has memorials for great advocates of nonviolence and human rights,” Kapoor said. “This is the only campus, not only in this country but the whole world, where we have memorialized all of these advocates in one place.”
Other members of Fresno State staff and students spoke, including Associated Students Inc. (ASI) President Camalah Saleh, CAMP director and event organizer Ofelia Gamez and Cynthia Villalobos, Latino programs and services assistant director.
Before the event, Fresno State Los Danzantes de Aztlán performed a traditional-style folklorico dance.
“César Chávez was an activist, and so I believe it’s fair for us to show our community support and do some service here for Fresno State and give it back to the community,” said Samantha Miguel, animal science major and Los Danzantes de Aztlán performer.
Multiple student and professional organizations were at the event, including the United Farm Workers Foundation, the Moreno Institute, Beta Gamma Nu, Chicano and Latin American studies and physics outreach.
“My parents migrated to the U.S. at a very young age,” said Esmeralda Palafox, president of the Farmworker Advocacy Club. “They didn’t have an education, so agriculture is what we leaned on. I think it’s crucial to have events like this, not only to share our opinions, but so people can come and also share their perspectives on why they think that this is relevant.”
Beta Gamma Nu was there to honor Chávez, but they were also there to talk about their spring philanthropy project, Heart of the USA, which is a program where they give essentials like straw hats, bandanas, gloves, food and even live music during their break.
“They used to have pretty harsh conditions for farm workers, and that’s something we’ve seen,” said Yousaf Herrera, a member of Beta Gamma Nu. “Now we’re able to make sure that their work was meant for something.”
Fresno State will observe César Chávez Day on March 31, and the campus will be closed.