City Of San Antonio: La Causa Sigue-The Cause Continues 26th Annual Cesar Chavez March For Justice Set For March 26

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

Monday, February 28, 2022

CONTACT: Sonia Quirino Canales (210)-264-9954
SMQuirino@gmail.com
Giovanna Berrocal, (210)-207-2098
Giovanna.berrocal@sanantonio.gov

SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 28, 2022) — Today Mayor Ron Nirenberg joined City and community leaders to announce plans for the 26th annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, scheduled for Saturday, March 26, 2022. While the COVID-19 Pandemic forced organizers to postpone this annual event for the last two years, this year’s March for Justice brings thousands of San Antonians to walk in honor of the legacy of Cesar Chavez, the great humanitarian and civil rights leader who worked tirelessly for Latinos and working families.

Produced by the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation (CECLEF) in San Antonio, the annual event draws thousands of individuals and community groups from all backgrounds for a 2-mile trek through the heart of downtown San Antonio. Participants gather at the corner of Brazos and Guadalupe streets near the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and make their way towards Hemisfair Park. Led by this year’s Grand Marshal and First Lady of San Antonio Erika Prosper Nirenberg, the march steps off at 10 a.m. This year, VIA is providing free transportation to and from the march. Participants needing a ride can park free of charge at the Alamodome. Free, roundtrip bus services run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This year’s March is especially important as we prepare to celebrate the first Cesar Chavez Day in San Antonio later this month,” said Mayor Nirenberg. Set for March 31, City Council voted to observe Cesar Chavez’ birthday as a paid City holiday. “San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the country and the second largest city in Texas with a majority Latino community, so recognizing March 31 as an official City holiday not only honors the lifelong work of a great Latino leader, but also honors the importance of culture and history of so many of our residents and families,” he added.

To recognize the farm worker as essential workers and underscore the awareness of food disparities, participants are encouraged to bring canned goods to the March for Justice to support the “Yes We CAN” food drive. Simply drop your canned good donation at a red bin at the beginning of the March route. Food will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank.

“The Pandemic has made it challenging for our community to gather together,” said Ernest J. Martinez, Chair of CECLEF. “But it has also made us stronger because we’ve united to lift each other up and create new resources to solve for food and health disparities, job loss, the digital divide and other vulnerabilities that were exposed,” he added.

Under the theme of La Causa Sigue or The Cause Continues, this year’s March for Justice is a reminder that although some 50 years have passed from when La Causa first began, the issues today are eerily similar to what erupted during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. “The struggle for the working class continues today and is evident in wage disparities, rising costs of healthcare, food disparity, voting rights being challenged and barriers to complete a college education by Brown and Black communities,” Martinez said.

The event culminates at Hemisfair Park in a festival of music, food and speeches by CECLEF Chair Ernest J. Martinez and Grand Marshal and First Lady of San Antonio Erika Prosper Nirenberg. Music performances by Little Joe, Piñata Protest, DJ Plata and others. Food trucks will be available on site.

Residents can continue the celebration on March 31, Cesar Chavez Day, with a celebration at the San Fernando Ballroom. Entertainment starts at 7 p.m. with DJ Plata, followed by Little Joe y La Familia. Los Callejeros round out the evening. Tickets are $31. All proceeds benefit student scholarships.

For more information on the March for Justice and information on how to purchase tickets for the March 31 celebration, visit www.sanantonio.gov/chavezmarch.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.