The steady beating of drums echoed through the streets Saturday as a long line of people marched from the National Hispanic Cultural Center to downtown Albuquerque.
The march happens annually— it is now in its 26th year honoring the late civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez.
“I think it's important for our community and young folks to really appreciate whose shoulders we stand on,” said Emilio Huerta, son of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. “If not for the sacrifices of folks like Cesar, my mother and other labor and civil rights leaders, we would not have a lot of the rights we have today, that we enjoy today.”
Chavez advocated for Latinos and farmworkers rights and founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. He is largely seen as the face the Chicano and farmworkers movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Huerta worked with Chavez as a farmworker activist and co-founded the UFW. She was honored as the special guest during Saturday’s march.
Huerta, who is 88-years-old, walked the entirety of the route.
“Viva Cesar Chavez! Viva Dolores Huerta!” one marcher shouted just as the group began to leave the cultural center.
“We are constantly trying to organize,” Huerta said. “We need events like this to remind us it’s worth continuing the struggle or continuing to fight.”
Many other familiar faces were in attendance of the march as well. New Mexico congresswomen, Deb Haaland, and Albuquerque mayor, Tim Keller, walked the two miles as their arms were linked with Huerta.
“I don’t know where our country would be without the farmworkers movement because it did more than stand up for farmworkers,” Haaland said in a speech. “It stood up for our environment. It stood up for this country. It stood up for people who didn't have a voice in this country.”
She said that people can use Huerta and Chavez as examples to continue to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Some marchers used the event to not only honor the work of the late Chavez, but to voice their opinions on other causes, such as the crisis in Venezuela.
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After the march, people gathered back at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for a fiesta with food, performances and more.
The UNM based group, Camperinos, goes annually to volunteer and assist in setting up for the fiesta portion of the event.
“We come in the morning and we do whatever they need us to do,” said Camperinos group member and University of New Mexico student, Ruendy Castillo. “We believe in a cause and we believe that the work that is being done with Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez is so powerful.”
Castillo said the event was great for families to bring their children so the legacy and work can be carried on by future generations.
The fiesta included a performance by Micky Cruz and Lasotras as well as many others. Several groups were also tabling at the fiesta, including the Dolores Huerta Foundation and Recuerda a Cesar Chavez, who helped to organize the event.
“I think it's important that people not only in Albuquerque, but around many other areas know the struggles that the farmworkers have been facing,” Castillo said. “Just for them to know what the struggles are right now, what the history has been and how we are shifting.”
Makayla Grijalva is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted by email at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @MakaylaEliboria.
