Mar 30, 2007 11:02 pm US/Pacific
Calif. Students March For Chavez, Immigration Bill
OAKLAND (CBS 5 / AP) ―
Hispanic students and others staged small marches in California on Friday to demand that the birthday of the late United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez become a national holiday and that Congress pass a legalization program for the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
About 50 protestors demonstrated in Oakland, while about 100 students walked out of classes in Los Angeles and a similar number marched in Sacramento.
Marchers on Oakland's International Boulevard carried signs calling for unity, waved the Mexican and American colors, and asking for recognition of Hispanic contributions to the country and its economy.
"Without farmworkers—no food, no fruit, no good," read a sign held by one of the students who made up about half the crowd.
"Cesar Chavez did a lot for us," said Jose Lopez, a freshman at Oakland Aviation High School marching with his father. "This is just us doing a little bit to honor him."
Others called for reform that would allow immigrants who are working illegally to earn the right to stay.
"What do we want? Legalization! When do we want it? Now!" the crowd chanted.
Veronica Rodriguez, originally from the Mexican state of Michoacan, pushed her 2-year-old daughter in a baby carriage and held her 8-year-old son by the hand. She said she was marching to demonstrate the unity of Hispanics.
"I'm also thinking about the future of my family here," she said. "We're hoping to one day be legal."
Jorge Lopez, Jose Lopez's father, said his family now had legal documents, but he wanted to show support.
"We struggled a lot when we first came here to settle our situation," said Jorge Lopez, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. "I don't want other people to go through the same."
As they walked in Los Angeles, teens chanted "Si se puede!" or "Yes we can!"
"If the government won't do it, we have to come out here and force them to," said Roberto Vera, 14. "Everybody is equal. It doesn't matter where you were born."
Cynthia Gomez, 16, agreed.
"Just like Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez is a hero to all Latinos," he said. "We should honor him in the same way."
The demonstrations came a year after rallies on immigration issues were staged throughout California. This time, however, the number was a fraction of the thousands who turned out in 2006.
In Sacramento, roughly 100 students trailed by police marched from Hiram Johnson High School to the state Capitol, wearing brown ribbons representing Mexican culture and solidarity. About 200 students from other schools were expected to join the walkout.
"He marched for us, now we march for him!!!" read one of the signs expressing support for establishing a holiday in Chavez's honor.
"We deserve to take it (the day) off. My family has been farmworkers, and Cesar Chavez has meant a lot for our family—with the union, better health care and better wages," said student Leticia Sanchez-Mata, 16.
Jesse Villanueva, 18, one of the march organizers, pointed to larger immigration concerns.
"We're trying to fight for our rights, no raids, and to fight for amnesty," he said.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
