Nearly 1,500 people prayed, marched and chanted Saturday in memory of César Chávez and in support of comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
“César Chávez was the one who helped speak up for our ancestors and those who were not able to experience justice, health care and all the things we deserve,” said Lucia Guzman, a minister and a mayoral appointee who heads the human rights and community relations office.
After a multidenominational service at St. Cajetan’s Event Center on the Auraria campus, the group spilled onto Speer Boulevard. The march ended at West High School, where marchers pledged to support a week-long economic boycott for immigrant rights beginning today.
The César Chávez Peace and Justice Committee partnered with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) and M.E.Ch.A. students from all over the country who are in Denver for the organization’s annual conference. M.E.Ch.A., which stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, is a Latino student group on college campuses.
“We need new laws; we have to speak out; we have to come out of the shadows,” Ignacio Ramirez, who works with CIRC, told the crowd in the West High auditorium.
The boycott and the march are both part of a national movement to push reform, immigrant advocates say.
Eddie Lovato, a Marine veteran, said politicians are not moving quickly enough. His wife of four years is in Mexico after she applied for legal status and was barred from the U.S. He is desperately waiting for a change.
See Cheng, who marched, said immigration is not just a minority problem, and leaders should not ignore it.
“Congress is nothing but scams. They keep talking about passing reform, but they delay and delay and have more raids,” said Cheng, who is from Hong Kong.
Each year the César Chávez Peace and Justice Committee honors community members or groups in Chávez’s honor for their work in the Latino community.
Prudenso “Sam” Gallegos, 82, and Jose Guardiola, 27, were named César Chávez Award recipients. The local United Commercial Food Workers union and and Ace Community Charter School were also recognized.
“To have your name mentioned with César Chávez is unreal. My dad worked the onion fields and on Saturday we’d go help him,” said Guardiola, a student at Metro State who helped create a scholarship for Latino students in Commerce City and volunteers with several organizations in Denver.
While some question the combination of honoring Chávez and supporting undocumented immigrants, organizers say Chávez stood for all disadvantaged.
“He made the connection between the Chicano and Mexicano communities, and if he was here he’d be speaking,” said Lisa Duran, executive director of Rights for All People.
Immigrants who marched said they feel a kinship with Chávez.
“César Chávez was a compatriot. He was smart and he worked hard for people,” said Ramon Gonzalez, 48, who marched with others from Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores, a day-laborer center.
Staff writer Elizabeth Aguilera can be reached at 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com.
