San Luis locals say Chavez won workers’ rights, but more work remains to be done

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) – March 31st is Caesar Chavez Day, the birthday of the farm worker leader.

It also marks the end of a month of remembering his legacy in Yuma County.

In San Luis, locals played music, danced and honored Cesar Chavez.

The celebration took place in the street just below the house where Chavez died when he spent most of his life in Yuma County.

“Take a moment out of your day and think about the impact and difference Cesar Chavez made. His legacy is farm workers,” said Jose Flores.

Maria Robles of the Cesar Chavez Coalition summed up the day’s events by saying Chavez taught farm workers how to work together.

“He’s important in San Luis, but he’s led the world to empowerment,” Robles said.

Chavez led a movement to get employers to pay fair wages and provide benefits to farm workers through non-violent action.

But Jose Flores says more work needs to be done as recent legislation introduced in D.C. appears to limit farm worker wages amid rising food prices in the United States.

“This is just one of the latest attacks on farm workers and another barrier that must be overcome.”