When Danny Flores was 12 years old he was living near Cesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers compound near Bakersfield.
Flores held picket signs after school and on weekends.
“The wind would blow hard,” he said. “But I would hold them tight all day long. My hands would get blisters, like the migrants working the fields.”
Flores was one of those in attendance at the Long Beach Cesar Chavez Day Celebration on Sunday.
March 31 is Chavez’ birthday. The holiday celebrates the legacy of the civil rights and labor movement crusader. Chavez fought for justice and equality for American farm workers.
Cal State Long Beach human rights advocate Armando Vazquez-Ramos organized the event at Cesar Chavez Elementary.
The program featured Aztec dancers Danza Iztacuauhtli and speeches by local politicians.
Danny Flores said that his sister, Darlene, introduced him to political activism. She was Chavez’ secretary.
She gave Flores a stack of pamphlets to pass out. “Many people would just crumble them up and throw the pamphlets back at my feet and then throw an insult at me—calling me a ‘wetback’ or worse.”
Flores moved onto the compound when he was 15.
“I was a troublemaker. I once got caught vandalizing a school bus. I got sent to see Mr. Chavez. It was like going to the principal’s office. He told me: ‘You can be a bad person and ruin your life or you can be a good man and make life good for other people.’ ”
When Flores moved to Los Angeles, a few years later he became the former.
“I fell into gangs and drugs and alcohol and became a knucklehead. But I was able to change my life around, and when I did, Cesar Chavez wrote me a letter of congratulations. So now I live my life as an activist—fighting for the rights of Latinos.
“I think if Cesar showed up here today he’d give me a big hug,” he said.
“I love Cesar Chavez.”
