Cesar Chavez March/Rally against HR4437 -Austin (dial-up warning)

[sonias]

At city hall before the march


Along parade route


Along parade route


Arriving at the A.B. Cantu Rec Center in East Austin.
This was only half the parade marchers arriving. Half of
the line was still behind us. Many thousands were there
waiting for us.


Crowd shot


Crowd shot


Banner on roof says "United we stand legal or not, against terrorism"



Congressman Lloyd Doggett and City Council Member Raul Alvarez.
Lloyd is wearing a Farm Workers Union T-shirt.


Travis County Democrats


Latinos for Texas


We had a beautiful march today. Hard to estimate the crowd but I say it was easily 4-5 thousand. About a thousand on the march and many thousands already at the recreation center when we got there. I'm sure the local rag is going to say hundreds in their story tomorrow.

My sig line used to read "I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees" - Emiliano Zapata. Saw quite a few Zapata t-shirts today. Que viva Zapata! Happy Birthday to Cesar Chavez (3/31). Que viva la causa!

Sonia

[sonias]

1. AAS story link

Chávez march draws record 3,000
Many participants drawn by immigrant rights fight

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Like the others in the record crowd of about 3,000 people, Perla Lavnas, 28, marched from Austin City Hall Saturday to honor the life of United Farm Workers founder César Chávez.

But she and her daughter, sister and brother-in-law were drawn, too, by proposed legislation passed by the U.S. House that would impose punitive measures on immigrants who are in the country illegally.

The Austin march honoring César Chávez usually draws a few hundred people downtown, but this year, as many as 3,000, including Robert Andrada, participated.

"We're not criminals," Lavnas said, standing under the American flag her family carried. "We're here to work. We love this country."

Lavnas marched as many in the crowd waved Mexican and American flags, held signs and chanted in Spanish. The marchers, spread out over several blocks, trekked about two miles to a hill and stage behind Zavala Elementary School in East Austin.

Amazing they didn't underestimate the crowd as much as I expected they would.

Sonia