By Melanie Johnson
DAVIS, CA – Last Thursday night, the Davis Human Relations Commission met to brainstorm ideas for the annual Cesar Chavez Celebration, which will be held at the Davis Farmers Market on Saturday, April 2 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Staff liaison Carrie Dyer introduced potential entertainers and activities which could be a part of the celebration.
The options include returning performances by Mariachi Puente – a local Davis music group, and Adelita Serena – an Aztec dancer and Yolo County resident, as well as information booths provided by organizations such as the Phoenix Coalition and Empower Yolo.
A new group which Dyer wanted to include in the upcoming celebration is Latinos Unidos, a club at Davis Senior High School.
She suggested that Latinos Unidos could “share information about their group” and possibly be involved in “a youth activity where the city could provide all of the supplies and stuff but maybe that some of the high school students would want to engage with some of the younger kids that would be out there, to bring them in to learn more about their club and maybe do a fun activity.”
Commissioner Edgar Wong-Chen added the suggestion, “I would really love to have testimonials from farm workers who are currently in the field.”
He elaborated that, “I feel like all this work that is being put in is very artistic and I think celebratory but I think there’s a lot of messaging that also needs to be brought up about advocacy, labor activism, immigrant activism, the struggles of current immigrants.”
Wong-Chen further stated that “what we should highlight of what Cesar Chavez fought for is the amount of coalition building that was done. I think that’s a piece that we should integrate into the day.”
Public commenter Connor Gorman offered his support of Wong-Chen’s suggestions, adding that, “I think really tying this into current modern struggles and how those are related to the legacies and histories involved here is really important, especially around current labor organizing and specifically anti-racist labor organizing.”
Following their discussion, the commission voted unanimously to form a subcommittee regarding further planning of the event in order to incorporate the suggestions brought forward.
In light of the recent Cesar Chavez revelations is the DJUSD going to consider renaming one of its schools?
Seems like everyone is. Got a press release from Sac Mayor that he’s appointing a committee to investigate options. It’s only two days in and the board is meeting tomorrow. Suspect we’ll know something soon
I guess we’re going to lose a holiday too.
Most likely not
At the very least a name change.
I guess that will happen before March 31
I’m surprised you haven’t done an article.
I probably will. Once Dolores came out today, it was all over.
I just found out about this as a result of Keith’s comments.
I’d suggest not naming anything after anyone, anymore.
(Other than Epstein’s Island.)
But as far as one of the local schools targeted for closure is concerned, it sounds like it should be given to the descendants of the Patwin tribe who are operating a casino on traditional Native American “gaming” grounds. That is, if land acknowledgements are taken seriously by the institutions which espouse them.
So you missed two whole news cycles?
Seems like you haven’t posted the comment you’re referring to, but apparently – yes. Then again, I’m not seeking to engage in hero worship (even regarding Paul Ehrlich, apparently) – since one of the Vanguard’s development activists knew about his death and how to spell his name before I did.
Not even sure if I got the spelling of his name correct this time, either.
But I do know where “Army Street” (Ceasar Chavez Street) is in San Francisco. And I generally know that any street renamed for MLK is probably one to avoid.
What a colossal waste of time, money and energy to focus on such things.
Apparently, some folks are also concerned about naming things after John Muir.
I’m concerned about naming things after Thomas Jefferson
I guess you can now add Cesar Chavez to your list.
Don’t care, and don’t care or necessarily know who is on all currency, either. I care a little about “In God We Trust” on currency due to its implication (but not really, either). I care far more about what my currency is worth. You can put the latest Ayatollah on it if it’s worth more that way, as far as I’m concerned. (Did I spell that correctly?)
By the way, I also misspelled “Cesar”, unless we’re referring to a salad. Hopefully, I haven’t also misspelled “misspelled”.
But I do care about fake “land acknowledgements”. The reason being that if some institution is claiming that the land was “stolen”, well then – they should give it back.
It is interesting (not sure if that’s the right word, however), that Keith is the one who pointed out the issue regarding Cesar Chavez, while the Vanguard has said nothing about it – including in THIS article.
And then David said that I’m the one missing out on “two news cycles”.
What is the implication of that, regarding the Vanguard as a news organization reporting on the issues that it supposedly cares most-about?
Does it suggest that David (and the social services commission, for that matter) prefer to avoid “bad news” about its heroes?
Or is it just “incomplete” reporting of issues that the Vanguard cares about?
Or both?
And is the social services commission totally ignoring this allegation?
Or, did I miss a Vanguard article (or social services commission meeting) regarding the allegations against Cesar Chavez?
I just heard the district will issue a statement.
They’re giving the Patwin campus to the descendants of the Patwin tribe?
But seriously, I’m wondering why I’m finding out about the allegations regarding Chavez from Keith, rather than you (or the social services commission topics – which would also presumably be announced by you). Especially since you state that I’ve missed “two news cycles”.
I’m not referring to the allegations themselves – I’m questioning how you report them (as well as how the social services commission is handling the allegations regarding one of its heroes).
Again, this is why I don’t view any mortal as a hero in regard to every aspect of their lives. Unfortunately, some seem to think that the individual themselves has to be beyond reproach, in regard to their overall message. Hence, the organizational/societal reluctance to acknowledge truths or serious allegations.
There will be something tomorrow – a local angle