Fresno State will observe the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo with Semana de la Raza Thursday, May 3, through Wednesday, May 9.

Events began with Día de la Mujer, dedicated to issues facing Chicanas. At 5 p.m., May 3, María Zapata a community health leader and diabetes educator with  Central Valley Health Network in Fresno, was scheduled to speak at the Social Science Building, Room 105.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the battle on May 5, 1862 in Puebla where the Mexican army unexpectedly defeated French troops of Napoleon III, who were trying to overthrow the democratically elected government of Mexico. The French emperor wanted to install a monarchy that would limit United States expansion and influence in the Americas.

That battle in Mexico was considered pivotal to United States’ forces in turning the tide against the South 14 months later at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Speaking at Fresno State in September, UCLA researcher Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, said the historical event is observed in the U.S. more than in Mexico and had special meaning to Latinos in California at the time.

“They were overjoyed that freedom and democracy had won a victory over forces representing slavery and oligarchy,” said Hayes-Bautista, who was promoting his book “El Cinco de Mayo – An American Tradition” to kick off a nine-month speaking tour.

He said California Latinos, rejoicing and celebrating with fireworks, patriotic songs and impromptu speeches, created and first celebrated the holiday in 1862.

“Cinco de Mayo is important to California because it was invented here,” said Hayes-Bautista. “It provides a collective identity for all Latinos, whether they were born here in California or immigrated from Mexico, Central America or South America. It binds them together in an identity.”

Fresno State has observed the historical event the past 40 years with the weeklong celebration.

On May 4, Los Danzantes de Aztlán, Fresno State’s premier folkloric dance troupe, performs at noon in the Fresno State Peace Garden. Dare to Dream, a Fresno State student club, will present a workshop at 5 p.m. that day in the Engineering East Building, Room 191 on AB540 students and higher education. Assembly Bill 540 allows undocumented students with certain qualifications to attend college in California using the state residency fee schedule.

On Cinco de Mayo, the Migrant Student Alliance sponsors a soccer tournament at 8 a.m. at Large Park near campus (Millbrook and Gettysburg avenues).For details, contact: Francisco Vallejo at 559.239.7539.

Monday, May 7, is Día del Indígena, dedicated to the indigenous roots of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, observed at 6 p.m. with cultural performances by Danza Yoztaltepelt, a Fresno State student Aztec dance group, and Danza Ollin Coyolt of Fresno.

On Tuesday, May 8, Noche de Poesía will feature a panel discussion at 4 p.m. in Psychology and Human Services, Room 110, with representatives from the Mexican Consulate in Fresno and Poetry Jam at 6 p.m. in the Peace Garden.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, David Moss of the American Civil Liberties Union Fresno office will perform a one-man play about the prison system at a discussion on  “Imprisonment de Nuestra Gente“ at Psychology and Human Services, Room 108.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Victoria Partida at victoriapartida@yahoo.com.

(University Communications student news assistant Reganie Smith-Love contributed to this copy).