Category Archives: celebration

Invitation to Community Celebration Honoring Fernando Pedraza, 8-11 AM, Friday May 3 on corner of Arrow and Grove

Join us in the annual commemoration of Day Laborer leader Fernando Pedraza this Friday, May 3 from 8 – 10 am (8114 Arrow Route – on the corner of Arrow and Grove) in Rancho Cucamonga. On Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), 2007, a spontaneous demonstration by the Minutemen against day laborers on the corner of Arrow Highway and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, ended with the death of day laborer leader Jose Fernando Pedraza. Fifty-seven-year-old Pedraza died at the corner where he waited on a daily basis for one-day jobs. It is also the corner where Pedraza organized other day laborers to defend their rights. In 2002, Pedraza was part of a court case against the City of Rancho Cucamonga who wanted to enforce a law disallowing day laborers to gather on the street. In the recent months before his death, Pedraza had attended several meetings of the Rancho Cucamonga city council to support his fellow day laborers so that they could have a job center where they could be safe from hate-based attacks and traffic accidents.

Jose Zapata Calderon
Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 952-1640
 Jose_Calderon@pitzer.edu
Website:  www.josezcalderon.com

 

Invitation to Fernando Pedraza Memorial and Ceremony on Wednesday, May 5

 You are invited to the 14th Annual Fernando Pedraza Memorial and Community Celebration that will take place on Wednesday, May 5th on the corner of Arrow Highway and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga from 8 am – 11 am.  The day laborers and community will gather between 8 and 9 am – and the program of music by Son Real and Jornalero Radio, prayer by Deacon Mario Lopez, and ceremony, and speakers will begin at 9 am.  The memorial and celebration will commemorate the life of Fernando Pedraza and other day laborers who have recently passed away.   If you are attending the event, everyone will be asked to wear a mask and to practice social distancing.  For those who cannot attend physically but want to join in virtually, you can connect to the zoom link at 9 am:  https://pitzer.zoom.us/j/89559545594  

 

On Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), 2007, a spontaneous demonstration by the Minutemen against day laborers on the corner of Arrow Highway and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, ended with the death of day laborer leader Jose Fernando Pedraza.  Fifty-seven year old Pedraza died at the corner where he waited on a daily basis for one-day jobs.  It is also the corner where Pedraza organized other day laborers to defend their rights.  In 2002, Pedraza was part of a court case against the City of Rancho Cucamongawho wanted to enforce a law disallowing day laborers to gather on the street.  In the recent months before his death, Pedraza had attended several meetings of the Rancho Cucamongacity council to support his fellow day laborers so that they could have a job center where they could be safe from hate-based attacks and traffic accidents.  

  

Pedraza, a Mexican immigrant and a father of five daughters and the grandfather of seven, was killed at 1 P. M. on May 5, 2007 when an SUV, that hit a car in the intersection, rolled onto the sidewalk where day laborers were gathered.  On any other day, the day laborers would have left by the noon hour.  On this day, the day laborers stayed because the Minutemen showed up to protest the day laborer corner. 

  

The Fernando Pedraza Memorial and Community Celebration is supported by the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, Latino and Latina Roundtable, Dale Show, and Radio Jornalera. 

Jose Calderon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 
Topic: Fernando Pedraza Memorial and Community Celebration
Time: May 5, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 895 5954 5594
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Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, Latino and Latina Roundtable, Dale Show, and Radio Jornalera.