The savory scent of fresh tacos lingered through the air, traveling along the line of white tents and pink, teal, navy and yellow balloons on Seventh Street Plaza during the Day of Celebration for Chicano Activists event on Wednesday afternoon.
The purpose of CHI (Chávez, Huerta and Itliong) Day, hosted by the César E. Chávez Community Action Center, was to honor the legacies of labor rights leaders César E. Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong, according to their Instagram.
Among the variety of art and crafts stands scattered along the plaza was a colorful piñata-making station by the Event Center, led by organizer Irma Juri.
A collection of colorful party hats were placed on the table, along with colorful paper streamers, glue and string for people to use. Juri taught eager crafters how to create the decorations, giving them a step-by-step tutorial.
Juri said she has been making piñatas for over 20 years, and looks forward to sharing her now professional work at CHI Day.
“It is my pleasure to teach students, and it makes me happy because they love it,” Juri said. “I really enjoy events like these, because I love not only being outdoors, but I love the people.”
Juri said it is important that schools hold events like these to celebrate important figures in history.
She also said everyone can gather and celebrate people like César Chavez, who mean a lot.
“It is important because they are all important people,” she said.
Accounting senior Marlene Moreno said piñata-making was her favorite part of the event
She said both her and her friend planned on spending the most time at the station.
“I’ve only been here for 15 minutes and I’m already enjoying myself,” Moreno said. “I really want to try the food a little bit later.”
Moreno said she came to the event because of how lively it was, and how many people were there.
“I’m Mexican, so I think it is really important to educate people on topics like these, and when it includes fun activities it makes (them) more enjoyable,” she said.
During the event, vendors sold a variety of fresh tacos and flavored agua fresca in front of The Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice.
Agua fresca is a sweetened, water-based drink made of fruit, cereal, grains, seeds or flowers, according to an article by Shape.
The Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice was created by Chicana artist, activist and scholar Judy Baca in 2008, and commemorates the work of César E. Chávez, according to an SJSU X post.
Across from the arch, next to the education booth and the table giving away free tote bags was a screen printing tent, where a stencil of Chávez, Huerta and Itliong could be used to create a painting of blue gradients.
Graphic design freshman Sriya Gopalan said she was excited to create a screen painting, since it was a physical version of her major.
“I had not done it before, so I was glad I got to try it,” Gopalan said. “I love when students create and display art in their free time.”
Gopalan said she loves when SJSU holds cultural celebrations like these on campus.
She also said she admires the effort that goes into organizing all parts of the events, since there are so many people that must plan every aspect of it.
“It is really something to admire,” she said. “It is almost like a carnival, but with a deeper purpose behind it.”
Wearing colorful hats and detailed, flowy dresses were Mexican folk dancers from Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí, who performed numerous times on stage in front of the Event Center.
Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí promotes the pride of identifying as an LGBTQ+ Latinx through the art of Mexican folklórico dance, according to its website.
Its mission is to preserve costumes and traditions through cultural and educational projects, according to the same site.
Across from the assortment of food, drinks and desserts was a live mural art station, with numerous canvases set up for those who wanted to step in and paint.
Pedro Rivas Lopez, one of the organizers at the station, said he believes it is important to stand for justice in today’s world.
Lopez was painting a portrait of Chávez, using various shades of purple, brown, black and orange to bring life to his work.
He said this event hits home for him because he is a farm worker and immigrant.
“I believe in everything that these three human beings do,” Lopez said.
He said it is important for people who have an opportunity to express themselves creatively to echo leaders who have been here before us.
“It touches my heart when we celebrate people of color who made an impact in the United States,” he said. “I’m a big social justice supporter and I always use my art as a means to create social justice and awareness.”
