Chavez vigil shines light on his legacy

By Maggie Thach

Rough winds blowing through the Peace Garden Friday evening weren’t enough to deter spectators from honoring Cesar Chávez.

The 11th annual candlelight vigil drew a crowd of about 50 people, most of whom had either worked in the fields or had parents that did.

“ My mom worked in the fields,” Ralphy Avitia, a high school history teacher at Madera High School said. “My whole family did. I think I benefited from farm workers. I have a commitment, a moral and ethical obligation to continue this event.”

Others felt the same sentiment.

Gloria Hernandez, a farm workers advocate for more than 30 years, was there when a picket line was formed to protest the Del Monte Company in Kingsburg.

“ I was 19 at the time. I didn’t get to go to prom like my friends did,” Hernandez said. “I was out there in the fields picketing.”

Frank Renteria, a counselor at West Hills College and former Fresno State graduate student, brought his family and performed a Native American song and dance with his daughters.

“ I was raised in the fields,” Renteria said. “The struggle goes on. I want my girls to be exposed to his greatness. I want them to carry it on.”

The eagle, a significant symbol in Native American culture, played a big role in the ceremony.

“ Native Americans believed that since the eagle flew so high, it was a messenger to the gods,” Renteria said.

Renteria blew the eagle whistle north, south, east and west, then to the sky and toward the ground.

“ We recited the song verse four times,” Renteria said. Each verse represented the four colors of humanity: black, red, yellow and white.

“ Cesar Chávez didn’t just stand up for Chicanos,” said Lucy Aguilar, a credential student in social science. “He stood up for humanity.”

The event reached out to two people who didn’t even know who Cesar Chávez was before they came to the event.

“ I am from New York,” Khara Matcham, a grad student in linguistics said. “I was interested in coming because I didn’t know anything about him. I didn’t learn about him in school.”

Shawn Putnam, also from New York, shared the same fascination.

“ I recently saw a movie about him,” Putnam said. “He stood for peace and solidarity. The youth need to embrace it because it’s going to be up to us to carry it on.”

To end the event, the small, intimate crowd formed a tight circle and passed a flame from candle to candle.

“ Cesar Chávez fought for our rights,” Ana Luz Torres said, a freshman psychology major. “This is just a small way to thank him.”