On Cesar Chavez Day, San Benito High School held an assembly to
honor the workers’ rights leader, and the event featured his sister
Rita Chavez Medina. The audience included not only teachers,
students and administrators, but also many involved in the Hispanic
Community, including League of United Latin American Citizens
President Mickie Luna and local actor Cesar Flores.
HOLLISTER
On Cesar Chavez Day, San Benito High School held an assembly to honor the workers’ rights leader, and the event featured his sister Rita Chavez Medina.
She spoke at the high school auditorium Tuesday afternoon to a full house. The audience included not only teachers, students and administrators, but also many involved in the Hispanic Community, including League of United Latin American Citizens President Mickie Luna and local actor Cesar Flores.
The assembly started with a processional of students waving the red-and-black United Farm Workers flag followed by Chavez Medina. Then, as to be in tradition, Chavez Medina’s daughter Lydia led the assembly in the Farmworkers’ Prayer.
Chavez Medina spoke on the importance of education because she didn’t have the opportunity to have one of her own. She also told the story of when she was 52, she went to adult school and got her diploma.
She also said that Cesar had always said that “somebody needs to do something about us, about the farm workers” and one day he took it upon himself to do something for farm workers.
“If he were around today, right now, he would ask you to help out the farm workers,” Chavez Medina said. “He would say, ‘Don’t do nothing for me, don’t name streets, don’t name parks. Go help the farm workers.”
Other speakers included Lydia Chavez Medina, Luna, Flores, Superintendent Stan Rose and San Benito High School District Trustees Mary Encinias and Ray Rodriguez. All the speakers told personal stories on how Cesar Chavez touched their lives, whether through a personal meeting or through the various movements in which he was involved.
Chavez Medina also brought a gift for everyone in attendance – a book marker that highlighted the important years in the life of her brother.
