Events surrounding ‘Csar Chvez Day’ kick off Friday at elementary school in Salinas

A peace march, followed by a celebration with a marching band, dancing and a first-ever tree planting ceremony in honor of Cesar Chávez is set for Friday. The annual event will take place at 1:00 p.m. at Cesar E. Chávez Elementary in East Salinas.

The school has held similar marches for more than a decade. And in case you think the students are too young to know who they are marching for, think again.

“So most of the teachers are doing something around Cesar Chávez to let them know who he was, but a lot of the kids know because they come to Cesar Chávez Elementary, so we talk about him frequently,” said Principle Petra Martinez-Diaz.

In 2014, President Barack Obama made Cesar Chávez Day a commemorative holiday. Chavez was a civil rights and labor movement activist who led the fight for farm workers rights, which is why here on the Central Coast the day is especially important.

Future Cesar Chávez events:

March 24th Cesar E. Chavez Annual March in San Jose

March 31st Cesar Chavez Day Park Cleanup

April 8th 2018 UFW Salinas Cesar Chavez March