Walking With Cesar
By Osvaldo Castillo
El Observador
Cesar Chavez is a hero to many people of different backgrounds throughout San Jose and throughout the world. In March 2009, the San Jose, the City Council designated a route through Downtown and East San Jose as Cesar Chavez Memorial Walkway.
With funding from the Mayor's office, walkway signs will be installed at seven landmark locations along the route.
On Wednesday, March 10, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was joined by members of the San Jose City Council and Rudy Chavez Medina (the Chavez family representative) to unveil the signs to the public.
"This is a collaborate effort with the City Council and the community to honor Cesar Chavez and his importance to our community," Reed said. "It is fitting that the unveiling of these signs be made here at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, which was the site of the old Safeway where Cesar first began his community actions."
The seven sites were the signs will be located are the Plaza de Cesar Chavez, the Cesar Chavez Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice, the Mexican Heritage Plaza, Cesar Chavez Elementary School, the Mayfair Community Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and the site of Cesar Chavez's former home.
"These are all fitting sites to have these signs," said District 5 Councilmember Nora Campos. "For example, the Mayfair Community is were Cesar had many of his roots. His brother also still lives in the house that Cesar lived in when he was in San Jose.
Campos went on to say that Chavez became a great leader naturally. He saw the wrong and injustice in his community and dedicated his life to correcting it.
Sam Liccardo, Councilmember for District 3, said he was honored to have the signs place throughout downtown San Jose.
"Cesar's journey began in East San Jose, but it took him everywhere there was injustice," Liccardo said. "He has taught us that it is important to working for justice wherever we are."
The Mayor, City Council and all those involved hope the signs will remind and inspire the youth in San Jose about Cesar and his life's work.
"We need to reach kids in our communities and teach them about Cesar's ideas about peace, justice and education. " Mayor Reed said. "Our kids will be much better off today if they know about Cesar and his work.
The signs will be put up throughout the seven designated area over the next two weeks, just in time for this month's Cesar Chavez Day celebrations.