The mural of the late Cesar Chavez seemed to look on as students, faculty and staff rallied Thursday afternoon to commemorate the 68th birthday of Chavez and to protest issues such as anti-immigrant and anti-civil rights legislation.
A large crowd gathered in Malcolm X Plaza to listen to speakers talk about boycotting grapes, Proposition 187, affirmative action and environmental justice.
Signs behind the podium read, "No person is illegal," "Immigration rights are the same as human rights," "Prop 187 is not the law," "Affirmative action forever," and "Ban all pesticides."
"I'm honored to see his work carried on by the students at SFSU," said Juanita Chavez, niece of Cesar Chavez and a member of the Internal Advisory Committee for the Cesar Chavez Institute for Public Policy.
Chavez said everyone must get involved in the fight for justice for farm workers, just as her uncle did.
Cesar Chavez, the son of a migrant farm worker, founded the United Farm Workers in the mid-60s, and by 1972 the UFW had more than 60,000 members. Currently, the UFW has about 100,000 members.
Chavez organized nationwide boycotts of grapes, wine, lettuce and citrus fruits to pressure California growers to sign contracts with the UFW. He gained negotiating leverage with growers because of the boycotts.
The peaceful policies of Chavez included getting college students involved in a struggle against powerful agribusiness interests.
"I'm here because I have an obligation to continue where Cesar Chavez left off," said Laura Gonzalez, an SF State senior majoring in liberal studies.
The event began with guitar playing and singing by musician Francisco Herrera, a cultural worker in San Francisco's Mission district.
Between songs Herrera said, "If you want to work for social change, you have to be willing to get married to the struggle."
Renee Saucedo, lawyer for La Raza Centro Legal, spoke at the noon rally and was one of the panelists in the Student/Immigrant Rights workshop following the protest.
Saucedo explained exactly how Proposition 187 could affect students and their families.
"187 has a devastating impact on our community, especially our Hispanic community," Saucedo said.
President Robert A. Corrigan was out of town on Thursday, but asked Eunice McKinney-Aaron, a lecturer in the ethnic studies department, to read a letter he had written.
Regarding affirmative action, Corrigan said, "It is our collective job to make sure it stays."
Corrigan also wrote that we can't ignore the needs of the students and we need to educate people who are against affirmative action because those people are misled, manipulated and uninformed.
Immediately following the rally, students had the choice to attend three different workshops in the Cesar Chavez Student Center.
Workshop panels discussed environmental justice, affirmative action and student/immigrant rights.
"I really didn't know much about affirmative action and actually didn't care until I came here today," said Michael Neri, an SF State sophomore majoring in english.
Keeping affirmative action alive is not just a goal of the Latino community, but a goal of many other minority groups, according to Joe Torres, SF State's affirmative action director.
"It's the only protection we have for women, people of color and persons with disabilities," Torres said.
Ed Apodaca, vice president of enrollment services, said Corrigan gave his commitment that he would not back away from the affirmative action programs.
In the Student/Immigrant Rights workshop, people were surprised to learn from Saucedo that Proposition 187 allows people who work in the public sector to refuse service to anyone they suspect is not a resident.
The day of events ended in Knuth Hall in the Creative Arts Building with artist and musician Chuy Negrete. Students listened to folk music while watching a slide show of the history of the Chavez family.
Chavez will also be honored on April 25 with a fund-raising dinner and reception at SF State in honor of the UFW. All proceeds will be donated to the UFW.
The Cesar Chavez Memorial Event was sponsored by the CCIPP and the Cesar Chavez Student Center.
According to Jose B. Cuellar, director of CCIPP, this organization was established last year as a base for the creation of leadership development programs, community affairs forums, and electronic communication networks among the students, faculty, staff and community.
In San Francisco Friday, residents remembered Chavez with the planting of trees South of Market to represent peace and non-violence.