Delano, CA – On March 30, 2025, Cesar Chavez Day, over 5,000 members of the United Farm Workers (UFW), the California Federation of Labor Unions, and SEIU California gathered in Delano to march in solidarity with immigrant workers. This event, marking the largest mobilization of union workers advocating for immigrant rights since President Trump’s election, denounced the former president’s mass deportation policies, which many believe attack the Latino community and working people at large.
The theme of the march, “Con Estas Manos / With These Hands,” emphasized the vital role immigrant workers play as the backbone of the American economy. Paul Chavez, son of Cesar Chavez, stated, “My dad showed us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. His life serves as a blueprint for change, demonstrating that when we organize, persist, and stand together, we win.”
Chavez's legacy is deeply intertwined with the fight for farm workers’ labor rights, which helped secure better wages, safer working conditions, and the first law enshrining the right to unionize for agricultural workers in the United States. Since its inception in 1962, the UFW has consistently organized and welcomed all workers, regardless of their immigration status.
Despite the progress made, challenges remain. Growers continue to exploit the threat of deportation to hinder farm workers from improving their rights and organizing effectively. Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the UFW, remarked, “This is a critical moment as workers’ rights are being dismantled with privatization and union busting! Hardworking immigrants are being vilified, and farmworkers, women, and the LGBTQ+ community face increasing attacks.”
Huerta's call for unity and action resonated throughout the crowd, with thousands of workers gathering to send a clear message of solidarity with all workers, regardless of their origins or workplaces. “In a time like this, it takes courage just to do what we have been doing,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Farm workers – like all workers – need to keep organizing to protect themselves and protect each other.”
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Texas, an early commemoration of Cesar Chavez Day took place on March 22, 2025, with the Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, which has been an annual event since 1997. Thousands turned out to honor Chavez’s legacy, which has inspired generations of activists and musicians alike.
The folkloric group Los Inocentes, formed just three years before San Antonio’s inaugural Cesar Chavez march, has played a significant role in commemorating Chavez through music. Maria Zentella, a member of the group, shared how her family’s connection to their native Spanish language led her to teach her children about their history and culture. “So my husband and I decided to teach them the history and the culture,” she explained. “The music, the Mexican music, the folkloric music... They loved it.”
One of Maria’s children, Binisa Zentella, became passionate about writing corridos, narrative ballads that tell stories. Her first corrido was about Esequiel Hernandez, an 18-year-old U.S. civilian killed by a Marine in 1997. “What struck me was that, at the time, we were both the same age,” Binisa reflected. “And so the way I channeled it was through a corrido because I was grieving for somebody I didn't know.”
Los Inocentes has been integral to the Cesar Chavez marches, leading the procession and composing songs for the movement. When the organizers of the first march requested a corrido for Chavez, Los Inocentes quickly composed one, demonstrating their commitment to musical advocacy.
Although Los Inocentes was put on pause about a decade ago as its members started families, the legacy continues with younger generations. Binisa’s son, 15-year-old Jonathan Wittwer Zentella, has joined the group, ensuring that the traditions of music and advocacy live on. “As I continue forth with my musical journey and seeing them parallel with mine, I was just starting to see that musical correlation as I kind of connected with my generational roots,” Jonathan explained.
On March 26, 2025, Jonathan and Binisa performed “El Corrido de Cesar Chavez” at Texas Public Radio, further cementing the connection between music, culture, and social justice.
The events in Delano and San Antonio highlight the enduring legacy of Cesar Chavez and the ongoing struggles of immigrant workers in the United States. As these communities come together to honor Chavez’s memory, they also reaffirm their commitment to fighting for workers' rights and social justice.
Both marches serve as a reminder that the fight for equality and dignity in the workplace is far from over. As Paul Chavez eloquently put it, “The unparalleled threats immigrants, Latinos, and farmworkers are facing deserves a dignified response, and with today’s march, we honor the life of Cesar Chavez and send a clear signal: every single one of us has the power to better our lives when we stand together and fight for what’s right.”
