Santa Maria elementary school celebrates Cesar Chavez

Students at David G. Sanchez Elementary School in Santa Maria celebrated the life of Cesar Chavez Friday as part of the annual ‘Cesar Chavez Celebration.’

Chavez was a famed civil rights leader and laborer who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in the early 60’s.

Kindergarten through fourth grade students performed songs and poems in honor of Chavez.

Students then gathered to listen to guest speaker Adrian Andrade, a Santa Maria attorney who worked and marched with Chavez.

“He spoke about non-violence, he spoke about educating yourself and not being afraid to speak out for your rights,” Adrian Andrade said, who marched with Cesar Chavez in 1982 down Main Street in Santa Maria.

“If you see a field worker go into a store, you see people looking at him like he’s illegal, like he’s bad for the community,” parent Leticia Carbajal said. “It means a lot, today is a really important thing for me.”

First grade teacher Adela Raynes said it was an honor to have Andrade speak to the students.

President Obama designated March 31 as Cesar Chavez day back in 2014. Elementary schools across California took part in the celebration.