LAS VEGAS(KSNV & MyNews3) -- A group of women wants to preserve history and pay homage to civil rights activist Cesar Chavez and they have focused their efforts in North Las Vegas. News 3's Sandra Gonzalez has more on their mission.
A group of women has started an effort to change a street in North Las Vegas to honor the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.
One of them is Chavez’ niece Nohemi Perez, who says her uncle’s history and impact on farm workers, has to be preserved.
“Most of the kids when you ask, they say who is Cesar Chavez? And they say the boxer and the new generation needs to know who is Cesar Chavez, a good leader for us,” Perez said.
She and some other supporters have their eyes set on a portion of Civic Center Drive, especially near the old North Las Vegas City Hall.
And it doesn’t matter to them, whether it’s a block or more, as long as it pays tribute to Chavez.
“I'd be proud to drive around this street, even bring students here and let them know what he did for the civil rights, for the people he fought for, the farm workers,” said immigration reform advocate Rosemary Flores.
But it will take some steps before it would even come to a vote.
“It's not something that can turn on a dime but there is a process for it and if it meets all those requirements and there's no reason not to it can fly right through the process,” said Juliet Casey, North Las Vegas Public Information Officer.
And it is not the first time an effort like this has been made in the valley to change a street to honor Chavez.
The publisher of El Mundo, Edmundo Escobedo tried to change a portion of Eastern in Las Vegas before he died in 2010. Now these women will try to restart what he began, but in North Las Vegas.
They are ready to take whatever steps necessary to turn part of a busy road into a history lesson for all to learn.
“Don't forget who was Cesar Chavez, that's why I do this,” Perez said.
