City leaders and community members gathered Monday to break ground on a new César Chávez Archway in downtown Laredo, honoring the civil rights and labor leader’s legacy.
The archway, located at 1000 Zaragoza Street, is intended as a symbol of hope, dignity, courage and justice, officials said, and as a reminder of the importance of civic engagement for younger generations.
Mayor Victor Treviño called the project “a gateway to shared values,” emphasizing that it represents the city’s commitment to human dignity and community recognition. Former Webb County Judge Danny Valdez said the effort was long overdue, noting that while Chávez never visited Laredo, his influence on Latino communities across the country is significant.The project is part of a three-phase plan to commemorate Chávez in Laredo. The first phase is the archway itself. The second phase involves naming a street after Chávez, which the City Council has already approved. Officials said a larger commemorative project is planned for the future.
Manuel Bocanegra, founder of the César Chávez Memorial Alliance of South Texas, highlighted the years of advocacy that led to the project, noting that local celebrations of Chávez’s legacy date back to 2002 with annual March for Justice events.Organizers said the archway will serve both as a public art installation and as an educational tool, reflecting Chávez’s contributions to civil rights and labor movements nationwide.
Construction is expected to begin immediately, though city officials did not release a completion date.