Sparked by immigration issues, this year's Sacramento march to celebrate the life of UFW labor leader Cesar Chavez was the largest ever, with more than 5,000 participants. Marchers assembled at the ILWU Longshoremen's Hall in West Sacramento, walked to the W.Sac City Hall on West Capitol, and across the Tower Bridge into Sacramento, ending at Cesar Chavez Park at 10th and J.

Forty years ago, in 1966, Cesar Chavez led a march from Delano to Sacramento in an effort to gain rights for farm workers. The end of the bracero program (1942-1964) made it possible for Chavez to organize the UFW. Now, in March of 2006, immigration legislation by the U.S. Congress proposes a guest worker program with far-reaching consequences for unions, workers, and would-be citizens. Other House bills would make it a felony to be an illegal immigrant or to assist an illegal immigrant, mandate construction of a multi-layered fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, and mandate detention and deportation of anyone illegally entering the U.S. (except Cubans!). It was in this charged atmosphere that the largest ever Cesar Chavez march took place.