Kids from the crowd joined the Aztec Dancers in a performance at the Cesar Chavez Day Celebration Sunday, March 31, 2019 in Long Beach. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

The sound of drums filled Chavez Elementary School in Long Beach Sunday afternoon as Aztec dancers with towering feathered headdresses performed in honor of Cesar Chavez day.

Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962 and is known for the phrase “¡Si se puede!” which loosely translates to “Yes, it’s possible,” a clarion call for Latinos.

Chaevz urged Mexican-Americans to register and vote, and traveled throughout California and made speeches in support of workers’ rights.

Cesar Chavez Day became a California holiday in 2000, nearly a decade after his death in 1993, and is celebrated on his birthday, March 31.

“Cesar Chavez is one of our country’s most important civil rights leaders … he’s up there with Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks,” Juan M. Benitez, member of the Board of Education for the Long Beach Unified School District said Sunday. “He was a national civil rights leader and I think it’s important that we have role models. … My hope is that we have an ongoing celebration every year.”

Benitez  brought his daughter Ixchel Benitez, 7, to learn about Chavez’s legacy.

The free event featured Aztec dancers, food and a lecture to honor the Mexican American farm labor leader who advocated for nonviolent social change since the 1950s.

Chavez’s activism was an important educational opportunity for those in attendance Sunday afternoon.

“I wanted to bring my daughter to see the Aztecs and just get an idea of who Cesar Chavez was,” said Xochith Gallegos, accopanied by her daughter Xitlali Gallegos-Simez, 6. “It’s part of her history, she’s Mexican-American so she’s going to need to know about her culture.”

Armando Vazquez-Ramos, a professor at Cal State Long Beach and founder of the California-Mexico Studies Center, said it’s important for Long Beach to celebrate Chavez’s values and legacy.

The holiday aims to “enhance the awareness of serving others and the principles of non violence, and justice for all,” he said.

“Cesar Chavez visited Long Beach on many occasions during his life and left a memorable impression upon generations of Latinos, and people of good will in our town,” Vazquez-Ramos said. “We cannot afford to lose the tradition of celebrating Cesar Chavez, nor forget the importance of his sacrifice in life to help others.”

The event was organized by the Centro CHA and the California-Mexico Studies Center, and is sponsored by a coalition of city leaders.

Source: Shannon M. Hoffman ~ Press-Telegram ~ March 31,2019