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Red Carpet Interviews: Cesar Chavez’s legacy

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The stars of the new biopic about Cesar Chavez were in the District last night for the local premiere of this moving new film. (HC cried and we weren’t the only ones moved by the inspirational story of the legendary farmworkers’ advocate, his close-knit family, and the powerful movement that he forged.) Below we have a few soundbites about Chavez’ legacy from Rosario Dawson, America Ferrera, Diego Luna, and Chavez’s son Paul.

UPDATE II: Here are the last of the soundbites from last night’s Red Carpet. And here’s the movie trailer, for those who haven’t already heard of Cesar Chavez, who was a nonviolent civil rights leader. Along with his wife Helen (played by America Ferrera), Dolores Huerta (Rosario Dawson) and countless others, he stood up to years of violence and intimidation until the United Farm Workers Union that they formed forced California grape growers to recognize the union and negotiate higher wages and an end to inhumane working conditions. Through it all Chavez never wavered from his belief in nonviolence and showed what an original and brilliant strategist can do. While he never became as famous (perhaps until now?) as Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi, he is a hero to us, he was without doubt one of the world’s most inspirational leaders. (Para la reseña en español, aquí)

The movie’s director Diego Luna on Chavez’ legacy. “Es nuestra historia

Chavez’ son Paul on what his father would think of the film

 

UPDATE:  America Ferrera, who plays Chavez’ wife Helen, was also in attendance at last night’s premiere. Hear what she has to say about the importance of defending the rights Chavez and his allies fought for half a century ago.

 

Here’s Rosario Dawson talking about how the film, besides offering good Hollywood entertainment, can serve as a sort of activism 101 for today’s immigration reform fight.

 

And for an epilogue of sorts, here’s Alberto Roblest’s video of Tino Villanueva’s poem, Haciendo Apenas lla recolección.