Exhausted after fasting and traveling for 10 days, Mark Valdez took the last weary steps towards the beach at Border Field State Park. He was met there by Father Dermot Rodgers, who blessed him for his prayers and dedication. Rodgers broke bread with Valdez, an historic echo of 1968 when presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy met Cesar Chavez to break bread with him after a 25-day fast in protest of the poor treatment of migrant workers.
“My fast is two-fold,” said Valdez, a member of the Border Angels’ board of directors. “First, in memory of Cesar’s cause and sacrifices that brings me closer to God. Secondly, to experience what migrants experience every day trying to get across the border, many of them losing their lives.”
Marcha Migrante VII celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Farmers Workers, founded by Cesar Chavez in 1962. Each day of travel was a tribute to his 10 core principles reflected in its theme, “Walk with Cesar.” Chavez’s principles were determination, acceptance of people, celebrating community, respect for live and environment, non-violence, helping the most needy, knowledge, sacrifice, service to others and innovation.
“This park is a sacred park,” said Border Angels founder Enrique Morones. “This is home to Friendship Park where we normally end our journey. The idea was to have a friendship between both countries.”
Beginning Feb. 2, at Cesar Chavez Park, marchers enjoyed a sendoff by the Hummingbird Aztec Dancers. Next was the drive to Holtville Cemetery, a somber graveyard of more than 700 unidentified migrants.
“The names on some of the crosses you carry are some of the names of some of the 10,000 people that have died crossing the border since October 1994,” said Morones.
In Yuma they saw where Cesar Chavez was born and the remains of the small adobe home where he grew up. They rumbled to Coachella to hear California Assembly man Manual Perez announce a three-bill package to assist communities that rely on the migrant work force. On the way to Los Angeles, marchers protested in front of an INS detention facility. That evening they rallied in Plaza Mexico, where El Pueblo Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula was founded. Morones said they spent a wonderful evening in Boyle Heights at the theater of iconic Latina playwright Josephina Lopez. After watching her production of “King of the Desert,” Lopez put the group up for the night at Casa 0101 Theatre.
During a day of fasting the group journeyed to the Cesar Chavez Center in La Paz, high in the Tehachapi Mountains (see Back Page.)
“This is a magical place, an historic place and also a sad place,” said Morones. “Sad only because Cesar is buried here. But Cesar is not gone, he’s with us and he will always be with us.”
Warm rooms and beds awaited 25 marchers, but several stayed up late painting crosses for their next day’s journey to 40 Acres, the place Chavez planned his most momentous initiatives, of including the 1970 signing of the historic UFW labor contract. His son, Paul Chavez, president of the Cesar Chavez Center, said the center exists to fight for humane treatment of immigrants.
“(Latinos) have always answered the call to duty,” he said. “We’ve done the (worst) jobs, worked the hardest and we are not recognized for it. So let’s do it. Not so much on behalf of my dad, but we are going to do it on behalf of the larger Latino community.”
Moving on to Modesto, Morones said friends from El Concilio help the needy every day and do amazing work.
“We saw the work firsthand, from educating youth to visiting farm workers,” he said. “The work is exemplary and you can see the joy and the pride of the Concilio workers in the love they demonstrate.”
Many marchers headed to Sacramento and did interviews with local and international media. Morones visited offices of state legislators to seek humane immigration reform.
Marchers met in Escondido to support day laborers mistreated by the city’s law enforcement. Escondido has been dubbed “Little Arizona” by human rights groups.
Back home on the beach in the corner of the U.S., Morones gave thanks for everybody that participated in the march.
“There is so much work to do,” said Morones. “Chavez lessons continue.