NOTE: See original press release on Fresno State’s Cesar Chavez observance and the schedule at FresnoStateNews.com).

Panel on immigration at 10 a.m. today (March 29), opening ceremonies at noon

Natalie R. Hernandez, granddaughter of Cesar E. Chavez, will speak at California State University, Fresno on Tuesday, March 30, as part of the university’s observance of the late farm labor worker leader’s March 31 birthday.

(Fresno State will be closed Wednesday March 31 for the state holiday).

Hernandez will speak during the Cesar E. Chavez Ceremony at the Speakers Platform in the Free Speech Area between noon and 1 p.m.

Her talk and a garlanding ceremony also at noon Tuesday are a part of “Celebrating the Legacy of Cesar E. Chavez 2004,” several days of events planned on campus from March 22 to April 2 in honor of Chavez.

A candlelight vigil was held in the Peace Garden on Friday (March 26) and today the activities resume with opening ceremonies at noon and a panel at 10 a.m.

This morning (March 29), a panel on “Mexican and Latino immigration in the Central Valley” will be in Room 200 of the University Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The panelists are Carlina Simunovic of Fresno Metro Ministry; Chris Schneider of Central California Legal Services; and Rufino Dominguez of California Rural Legal Assistance and Frente Indigena Oaxaqueno.

At noon today also, the César E. Chavez Opening Ceremony will be held in the Free Speech Area Speakers Platform with opening remarks, presentation of colors and flags, singing of the American and Mexican National Anthems and blessing of the Altar honoring Chavez’ family.

The altar is set up in the Peace Garden from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and tomorrow along with a display of students’ comments on the topic, “What Does Cesar Chavez Day Mean to You?”

On Tuesday morning (March 30) a panel discussion will examine “Legacy of Cesar E. Chavez: Relevance of Non – Violent Social Change.”

The speakers will be Dr. Sudarshan Kapoor, professor of social work at Fresno State; Grace Solis of the Fresno Co. Public Defenders Office and Fresno State alumnus who once served as president of MEChA; and Les Kimber, founder of the California Advocate, newspaper for the valley’s African American community.

That panel will be held in Room 312 of the University Student Union from 10 to 11:30 a.m. also.

Tuesday’s César E. Chavez Garlanding Ceremony, also at the Speakers Platform in the Free Speech Area, begins at noon following an 11:30 a.m. performance by Los Danzantes de Aztlán.

The annual presentation of garland and flowers will be made at the Chavez statue in the Peace Garden along with mariachis before the late farm labor leader’s granddaughter delivers the keynote address.

Hernandez, 21, the younger of two children, is the daughter of Chavez’ daughter Eloise Chavez Carrillo and her husband, Gilbert Chacon Hernandez. She is majoring in liberal studies at California State University, Bakersfield.

Hernandez, who works at the CSUB admissions office and as a file clerk for the La Campesina Radio Network based in La Paz near Bakersfield, aspires to become an elementary teacher.

She worked part-time for the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation in Los Angeles before she moved to Bakersfield where she was raised.

Copy prepared by University Relations student intern Ravneet Padda.

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Relations also provides releases for news media companies

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