Immigration Reform Marches Scheduled This Weekend

As United Farm Workers of America stage immigration reform marches across the West Coast this weekend, the nearest event for Southwest Riverside County residents will be Coachella.

UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and local leaders will participate in a march for  reform and to honor the legacy of Cesar Chavez tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the Coachella Plaza Shopping Center, 49647 Highway 86. Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia and other council members are expected to attend, according to United Farm Workers.

a "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" framework proposed by eight U.S. lawmakers. Click here to read what was proposed.

Thousands of people are expected to participate in marches in California and Washington this weekend. Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers of America, died 20 years ago and his birthday on March 31 is a holiday in California.

In addition to Coachella, scheduled marches include Bakersfield, Fresno, Oxnard, Salinas, Santa Rosa, and Yakima in Washington.

The marches are part of United Farm Workers' national campaign "Con la Union de Campesinos Tendremos Papeles," or "With the United Farm Workers We Will Have Papers."

They are part of a "continuing effort to urge lawmakers to pass a new immigration process that would allow the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. to legalize their status," according to a UFW statement.

Founded in 1962 by Chavez, the United Farm Workers of America is the country's largest farm workers union, according to its website.

For information, go to www.ufw.org or call (661) 823-6151. --City News Service