2015 Fort Worth Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee’s 30th Annual Parade and Rally

Thousands, including the César Chávez Committee of Tarrant County took part in the Fort Worth Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee’s 30th annual parade and rally on Monday, January 19, 2015. My wife Dr. Ann Marie Leimer is the one in the hat, waving. Si se Puede. 

Click photo to enlarge.

Copyright 2015 Jesús Manuel Mena Garza. All rights reserved.

MEChA organizes march in Chico, California for César Chávez Day

Article courtesy of ChicoER.com

 Photo of César Estrada Chávez by Jesús Manuel Mena Garza

The memory of farm labor activist César Estrada Chávez was honored Saturday with a march through downtown and neighborhoods near the Chico State University campus.

About 40 members of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán gathered at City Plaza during a break in the rain. Some used whistles to raise awareness as the group traveled down Main Street, chanting, "What do we want? Justice."

Student Stacy Rios said the march for César Chávez Day was to honor the hard work of the man who formed the National Farm Workers Association with Dolores Huerta. The group later became the United Farm Workers union.

Rios said it's unfortunate that some students in the community misunderstand the holiday, or even believe it is a Mexican holiday. Some students have used the day off from classes to dress up in Mexican costumes and attend theme parties.

Juan Guzman, director of MEChA, said he believe it's more ignorance than disrespect for the work of Chávez, who worked for farm laborers of all countries of origin.

"It's more for people as a whole," he said.

Letters were sent to bars and student groups to help educate people about the meaning of the holiday.

Saturday afternoon in the student neighborhood, there were a few groups of young people walking and wearing sombreros. At one point during the march, the MEChA students were chanting "Long Live César Chávez," alternating between English and Spanish. One man yelled, "English, please," as the group marched by.

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2011 San Bernardino County Museum Photography Exhibition Focuses on the 70s Chicano Experience

[Photo by Ann Marie Leimer, Ph.D. Click to enlarge]

Chicano Photographer, an exhibition by Riverside, California documentary photographer Jesús Manuel Mena Garza opens at the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) Schuilling Gallery, March 26, 2011. The exhibition continues to November 6. A reception open to the public takes place on March 25, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.

The photographs were captured from 1970 to 1975. During this period, Garza took intimate photographs of Chicano icons César E. Chávez, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzáles and others. The photographs provide a retrospective glimpse from the unique perspective of the photojournalist and activist. The SBCM exhibition lists thirty-one select images from the photographer’s Imágenes Xicano Archive, a portion of which has already been exhibited on both coasts.

University of Redlands Professor Dr. Ann Marie Leimer adds, “During the past decades, Garza has extensively published and exhibited several documentary photographic series. The Chicano Photographer series explores important aspects of the American experience, historic events and cultural practices often marginalized by the dominant culture.” Photographs from the series have already been published in journals and books. Dr. Leimer recently completed a book on the photographic series. The Chicano Photographer series can be viewed at Garza’s website, jmmgarza.com.

Please contact the SBCM for details about lectures and events coinciding with the Chicano Photographer exhibition. The March 25, 2011 reception is a family-friendly event featuring free entertainment, food and refreshments. Parking is also free.

Chicano Photographer Exhibition and Lecture Series

Location:

San Bernardino County Museum

Schuilling Gallery

2024 Orange Tree Lane

Redlands CA 92374

Voice (909) 307-2669 ext. 227 Fax (909) 307-0689

www.sbcountymuseum.org

Contacts:

Ann Marie Leimer, Ph.D., University of Redlands, 909-557-7159, ann_leimer@redlands.edu

Michele Nielsen, Curator of History, San Bernardino County Museum, (909) 307-2669 ext. 240, mnielsen@sbcm.sbcounty.gov

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