Protesters in the present united with a past movement when almost 1,000 people marched Saturday in the name of activist Cesar Chavez.
Chanting “Viva la raza!” and “Si se puede!” protesters carried signs and flags as they paraded from City Hall in downtown Austin to the Cantu Recreation Center in East Austin.
It was the third day in Austin for pro-immigration rallies. Many used the celebration of Chavez's labor fight to speak out against immigration reform laws up for debate.
“We are also fighting all of the anti-immigration legislation that is in place. The legislation is going to try to criminalize our people and extended families of our people,” PODER co-director Susana Almanza said.
PODER and other organizers spoke out against HR 4437, also known as the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.
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Immigration rally
News 8 Austin photojournalist Arnold Hernandez captures the sights and sounds of the March for Justice and Unity.
 
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“This was the sort of thing Cesar Chavez was actually protesting back in the 1960s. It was all about the campasinos’ rights. With this march today, it is now taking on, in my humble opinion, the next level of advocacy for our hardworking, newly arrived in Austin as well as the nation,” Austin City Council candidate Eliza May said.
Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. During the 20th century he fought terrible working conditions for migrant farm workers, which eventually led to improvements.
This was the fifth annual Cesar Chavez march to celebrate his birthday on March 31.
“We need a change in immigration policy but it’s not one of building a wall with Mexico. We already really have a wall of ignorance in Washington. We don’t need to add concrete to it,” U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said.
Many say the remembrance of Chavez's efforts is a reflection of the rights others are taking a stance for today.
“What’s going on today is a real testament to the economy of our country. This population is fueling the economy of the United States who we need to treat fairly and justly give it its recognition, as it should be,” May said.
