For many years, Community to Community Development has held a march for farmworker dignity during the peak of harvest season in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Three years ago, Honesto Silva Ibarra passed away as the result of exploitative practices at Sarbanand Farms in Sumas, Washington. Since that time, we have held the farmworker march in his honor. This year, we were not able to hold our traditional march due to Covid 19. Still, we mark this day with love and respect for Honesto and all of the workers who have needlessly given their lives for lack of safety and basic human rights. On this week’s episode of Community Voz, leaders from the movement reflect on that day in August 2017 when we learned that Honesto had died, and on the continuing fight against Labor and Industries to win rights and safety for the workers who continue to struggle and die in the fields. Listen to the episode here.

We have compiled some photos from Camp Zapata, which was a gathering of workers who left Sarbanand farms following the hospitalization of Honesto Silva Ibarra. Also included are images from Farmworker Dignity Marches over the years, the current struggle in Yakima Valley, as well as some organizing work that Rosalinda Guillen, Edgar Franks, and Ramon Torres have been at the forefront of for many years. Thanks to Brenda Bentley, David Bacon, Edgar Franks, Cecilia DeLeon, Learner Limbach, and Liz Darrow for these photos.

We recognize and give appreciation for the lives of Honesto Silva Ibarra, David Cruz, and so many workers who have suffered at the hands of an industry that has never held their lives in the regard that they deserve. The struggle continues.

Songs in this episode:

El Inmigrante by Calibre 50

Juan José Rodriguez by Los Tucanes

MARCH FOR DIGNITY may 2017 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

farmworker march for dignity MAY 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

may 2017 MARCH FOR DIGNITY PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

march for dignity mAY 2017 photo by brenda bentley

Alex Mcintyre at the March for dignity MAY 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

MARCH FOR honesto august 2017 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

march for honesto august 2017 photo credit cecilia deleon

Sarbanand protest august 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

confronting the bosses at sarbanand farms august 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

CAMP ZAPATA 2017 PHOTO CREDIT CECILIA DELEON

rosalinda guillen conducting interviews at camp zapata 2017 photo credit cecilia deleon

A WORKER WITH INJURED FEET PHOTO CREDIT ASHLEY HIRUKO Camp zapata 2017

cecilia deleon with a worker at camp zapata 2017

BRENDA bentley ON NIGHTWATCH AT CAMP ZAPATA PHOTO CREDIT ALEX MCINTYRE

ramon torres, edgar franks, and cecilia deleon at camp zapata 2017

Edgar Franks with a worker at CAMP ZApata 2017 Photo credit brenda bentley

donated food and supplies at camp zapata 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

August 5, 2017 vigil photo credit brenda bentley

workers from sarbanand farms held an August 5, 2017 vigil for honesto photo credit brenda bentley

an altar made for honesto silva ibarra at camp zapata August 2017 Photo credit brenda bentley

memorial for honesto at the church of the assumption in bellingham august 13, 2017 photo credit brenda bentley

camp zapata 2017 workers hold up the visas they were eventually able to get back from sarbanand. holding worker visas captive is a common h2a farm practice.

Art build for farmworker march for dignity august 2018 photo credit brenda bentley

art build for farmworker march for dignity 2018 photo credit brenda bentley

BIJOU DARROW PRACTICING BATUCADA FOR THE FARMWORKER MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2018

cecilia deleon, modesto hernandez, ramon torres, edgar franks, and rosalinda guillen, Opening mistica March for dignity 2018

2018 march for farmworker dignity photo credit brenda bentley

march for dignity 2018 photo credit edgar franks

photo journalist david bacon documents the farmworker march for dignity 2018 photo credit brenda bentley

2018 farmworker march for dignity photo credit brenda bentley

batucada team 2018 farmworker march for dignity photo credit brenda bentley

cecilia deleon Confronting sarbanand during the farmworker march for dignity 2018

brenda bentley and rosalinda guillen, Farmworker MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2018

art installation by brenda bentley with “guilty” verdict from the community left at sarbanand farms during the march for dignity 2018 photo credit learner limbach

modesto hernandez and brenda bentley, MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2018 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

ramon torres and learner limbach, farmworker march for dignity 2018 photo credit brenda bentley

An Altar for Honesto 2018 Photo Credit Brenda Bentley

dignity vigil at the bellingham wta station downtown 2018 photo credit brenda bentley

SUNRISE mistica to begin 2019 march for dignity photo credit breNDA BENTLEY

misticia to open march for dignity 2019 photo credit liz darrow

MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2019 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

march for dignity 2019 photo credit liz darrow

FARMWORKER MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2019 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

Tracy bass running the merch table during the 2019 farmworker march for dignity photo credit brenda bentley

FARMWORKER MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2019 PHOTO CREDIT DAVID BACON

ramon torres, president of familias unidas por la justicia, march for dignity 2019 photo credit brenda bentley

Australia Hernandez and rosalinda guillen AFTER THE MARCH FOR DIGNITY 2019 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

ALTaR FOR HONESTO 2019 PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

ramon torres, president of familias unidas por la justicia, addresses workers on the picket line in yakima 2020

hungerstrike misitica in yakima 2020 photo credit brenda bentley

australia hernandez at the strikes in yakima photo credit brenda bentley

WORKER STRIKING IN YAKIMA PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

workers on the picketline in Yakima 2020 photo credit brenda bentley

HUELGA EN YAKIMA PHOTO CREDIT BRENDA BENTLEY

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Honesto Silva Ibarra Presente

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