Gutierrez captures spirit of César Chávez Celebration

April 3, 2012

Friend of Amigos805 Jess Gutierrez (photographer, writer, publisher and all things local Latino media) was busy Sunday, April 1 capturing images at the 16th annual César Chávez Celebration, which began with a mass for field workers at Cristo Rey Church, 531 Cooper Road in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard and continued with a march and a celebration at César Chávez School in La Colonia.

Denis O’Leary, one of the organizers, said so many people attended (400 plus) that festivities had to be moved from the school’s auditorium to the school’s playground.

The annual march coincided this year with the 50th anniversary of the United Farm Workers union, which included a speech by UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and the presentation of 50 awards to community members and groups in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the UFW.

The following are other photos by Jess Gutierrez featuring such community members of Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza; former Oxnard Mayor Manual Lopez and his wife, Irma; Javier Gomez of the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard; Oxnard City Councilmember Carmen Ramirez, 26th Congressional candidate Jess Herrera; Aurelio Jauregui and his wife, Martha; Pete Placencia, who donated the César Chávez placard that was carried around by many at the celebration; and many other award-winners and Latino community members and supporters. Thank you Jess…