A vigil was held to honor the memory of recently deceased labor/civil rights leader Cesar Chavez Monday night in the King Memorial Commons.

Chavez died Friday at the age of 66. He will be remembered best as the organizer of the United Farm Workers of America, and as a human rights advocate.

Before the vigil began, black arm bands were distributed in memory of Chavez. Fliers detailing the work Chavez began, and identifying the problems he worked against, also were passed out.

The vigil began with a welcome from Liz Monge of El Pueblo Unido in which she said, “The struggle continues with the grape boycott issue. It is as alive today as it was during the civil rights movement.”

In 1984 the grape boycott that Chavez began in 1962 was reinstated because the problems have yet to be resolved.

Ninety percent of all table grapes are from California, and these grapes are treated with chemicals for size and appearance. These chemicals, which do not wash off, cause cancer to anyone who is exposed to them making them a threat to both workers and consumers. In the 11-block radius of the fields where the chemicals are sprayed, children die because of exposure to the chemicals.

Monge introduced Lesa Velazquez-George who read a poem/prayer for Chavez she had written. The poem was followed by an open forum where Chavez was remembered for his activism and inspiration.

Professor Guadalupe Luna said even in death Chavez had the power to bring people to the struggle and she credited Chavez with inspiring her to go to law school.

Chavez was called “the Latino equivalent of Martin Luther King Jr.” and praised for his work to bring about a better life for all farm workers. His activism helped not only Latinos, but all of the people who worked in the fields. By his activism he helped an entire social class.

One of the goals of El Pueblo Unido is to spread the message that the grape boycott is not over and to organize a grape boycott on campus next semester.

Anyone interested in learning more about the boycott should contact El Pueblo Unido at 753-3385 or 753-5288.