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The march also celebrated the ending of the 5-year old Mt. Olive Pickle Boycott and to also raise money for the widow of the late migrant worker, Raymundo Hernández. Area high school students and members of the community raised almost two thousand dollars.
Participants assembled on the corner of South and Broadway Avenues. Drummers from Libbey High School ’s marching band led the way. Marchers walked to Golden Rule Park on Maumee St. Supporters waiting at the rally site welcomed them.
Speeches from Toledo Mayor Jack Ford and FLOC president Baldemar Velásquez were followed by students from Toledo Christian, Libbey, Waite, Central Catholic, and St. Francis de Sales high schools, who expressed their feelings on the human rights of migrantworkers.
Blanca Pecina, a student from Libbey High School , spoke to the crowd and reminded the youth to: “realize why they are rallying and to support the human rights of those who slave everyday to put food on all of our tables.”
Another inspiring student from Waite High School , Brandi Cabello, followed Ms. Pecina’s speech. Brandi told the students that “they need to be aware of the inhumane conditions of migrant workers” because “they (the youth) are the ones who will be taking the places of Baldemar Velásquez and others who continually fight for the rights of migrant workers.”
Fundraising for the family of Raymundo Hernández began in 1999 at Toledo Christian High School . Students collected their lunch money to raise money for the Hernández family. The Fundraising has now expanded to Toledo area high schools and schools as far away as Columbus .
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