Phoenix suburb to rename street after activist Cesar Chavez

PHOENIX — The West Valley suburb of Glendale will rename a street after civil rights icon Cesar Chavez this week.

Glendale officials will dedicate Cesar Chavez Boulevard on Friday, the day after what would have been Chavez’s 89th birthday.

A ceremony was scheduled for 10 a.m. at the corner of 59th and Myrtle avenues.

Born near Yuma, Chavez used marches, boycotts and hunger strikes to bring attention to the plight of impoverished and overworked rural laborers.

He formed the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers.

Glendale has a history of honoring Chavez. The nonprofit West Valley Foundation will host its annual breakfast honoring Chavez before the street dedication ceremony.

The breakfast will be held at the Glendale Civic Center starting at 7:30 a.m.

Last year members of Chavez’s family attended the event.

Chavez died in 1993 at the age of 66.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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