By Robert Castillo - SouthSaToday.Com
SAN ANTONIO - According to police estimates, as many as 5,000 participated in Saturday's Cesar Chavez March for Justice chanting "Si Se Puede" and "Viva Chavez" as a tribute to the long and difficult struggle of Cesar Chavez to organize farm workers.
Saturday's march moved from the Guadalupe Plaza in the city's westside along a three mile tract ending in front of the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, Texas.
A similar tribute was held earlier in the week in San Jose, California where Merlyn Calderson, a United Farm Workers national vice president addressed students at San Jose State University. "For more than a century, farm workers were treated as modern day slaves. Besides just the basic things that farm workers needed, the dignity and respect deserved was nonexistent," Calderon said.
It was after much difficulty that Chavez and labor leader Dolores Huerta were able to form the National Farm Workers Association. That later became known as the United Farm Workers.
The event in San Antonio began with a number of community leaders addressing the crowd at Guadalupe Plaza before the start of the march. One of the most notable speaker was Arun Gandhi, grandson of the late Mahatma Gandhi whose life was devoted to improving workers civil rights and freedom all over the world. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in January 1946 as he prepared to address a prayer meeting.
"Anything that seeks justice through non-violence I am glad to be part of it," stated Arun Gandhi as we took his place in the march, surrounded by dozens of students from Our Lady of the Lake University where he was scheduled to participate in a protest against hate crimes and prejudices later in the day .
Jaime Martinez, Chairman of the Board of the March Association introduced notable city officials including the Mayor Julian Castro, City Councilman David Medina, Police Chief William McManus and several candidates for the run-off elections scheduled for November. Many of the participants were also representing local universities and colleges, including St. Mary's University, Lady of the Lake University and the University of Texas.
The group disbanded after a final rally in front of the Alamo.
