Farmworkers march coming through Turlock

Ten days in and the United Farm Workers’ march toward the state capital is gaining momentum, according to Elizabeth Strater, the UFW’s director of strategic campaigns.

“I think we’ll have a couple hundred people marching here on Thursday as we go from Parlier to Calwa,” said Strater. “The bishop of the Diocese of Fresno (Rev. Joseph Brennan) will be marching that day. There’s a level of community support, you can feel it growing.”

The marchers will make their way through Tulare, Fresno and Madera counties this week and arrive in neighboring Merced County on Aug. 14. They’ll depart Le Grand for Merced a day later and then arrive in Livingston on Aug. 16. From Livingston, they’ll trek to Turlock and then depart Turlock for Modesto on Aug. 18. After that, it’s on to Manteca, Stockton, Lodi, Galt, Walnut Grove, Elk Grove, and then the Capitol on Aug. 26.

The UFW, which gained prominence in the 1960s under the leadership of renowned labor leader Cesar Chavez, organized the 24-day, 335-mile march to bring attention to Assembly Bill 2183, the Agricultural Relations Voting Choice Act, which seeks to expand voting options for farm workers.

According to Strater, the legislation is similar to AB 616, which passed last year but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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