Latin American music faintly echoes inside 24th Street BART, and gradually becomes louder emerging from beneath the station. It is a special occasion.

Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of Cesar Chavez’s death. Thousands of supporters, primarily of Latino decent, marched the streets of the San Francisco’s Mission District to commemorate the civil rights leader who fought for labor rights.

San Francisco Unified School District honor roll students began the festivities in the 13th annual parade. Local bands and unions, along with other multicultural organizations followed them.

Featured in the parade, Mixcoalt Anahuac Aztec dancer Gigi Munoz said the day held a significant meaning to her and her family.

“It means a lot to me personally, because my grandfather was a farm laborer,” said Munoz in a brightly colored uniform with dangling shells. “So it means a lot — to know everything he struggled through to be in this country — to help pass it on to future generations. ”

Munoz continuedsharing a story from last year’s Cesar Chavez Day.

“I remember last year we went out to Watsonville to dance for a ceremony and in Watsonville they have strawberry [fields] out there. And seeing all those labors out there working so hard in the sun, and just to see what Cesar Chavez did how he fought for the rights up until he died, is just amazing.”

The Aztec dancing is a major symbol of Chavez’s career as the Aztec eagle is represented on the United Farm Worker’s flag.

“A symbol is an important thing,” Chavez once said. “That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride . . . When people see it they know it means dignity,” states the Farm Workers Union website.

Chavez, in collaboration with Dolores Huerta, founded the National Farm Workers Association — now United Farm Works — in 1962, according to the organizations website. In 1966, he organized the Delano grape strike, the first of its kind the site says.

The celebration did not end there. Many supporters and activists, along with Hispanic traditions that identify with Chavez’s movement, were featured in a festival that spanned down 24th Street from Treat Avenue to Bryant Street.

Juan Davala, an activist and volunteer with Aguilera’s, an organization providing educational services for gay and bisexuals at San Francisco’s LGBT center, said this festival is about unity.

“I think it’s important we are here today because we’re a community,” said Davala, who explained there should not be “separation” between people.

He added the LGBT movement is synonymous with Chavez, because of the ongoing fights for equal rights.

Down the road, a mural representing Chavez is almost complete; the outline of his face is nearly finished. Members of Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center, and other attendees, spray paint saturated colors on to a large wooden panel. The organization, located on 24th Street, is a program that emphasizes the importance of art in the community.

“A majority of the Mission [District] is Latino,” said George Anzaldo, a member of the community organization. “[This event] does a lot for the community; the low riders, all the car clubs. But for this in particular, Percita Eyes is known for doing all the murals in the Mission.”

Similar to the Hayward Art Mural Program, Anzaldo explains Percita Eyes reaches out to the community, and according to the center’s pamphlet, it does this “through a process that enables them to reflect their particular concerns, joys and triumphs.”

The car clubs Anzaldo talks about are right across the street. Classic cars, mostly from the 1950’s, line the streets. The sun shines down on them giving them that “new car” look.

“Every Mexican knows Cesar Chavez,” jokes Jesus Silva. He is in a maroon red 1993 GMC Sierra. He shows the red buttons that control the airbag system, which controls the lifts to his car. He says the Chavez celebration “gives people a chance to look at what you built.”

Cesar Chavez Day is known to be about more than just labor unions, said David Bustamanate. Bustamanate describes his band as “Latino rock with a Filipino flare to it.” They have reunited after a 40-year hiatus to celebrate the life of the civil activist leader. The Filipino gentleman explains his memory of Chavez.

“This is a Cesar Chavez celebration of his life, and in 1974 we actually helped perform at some of his concerts to help his movement,” he remembers.

“There was a lot of boycotting going on,” Bustamante explained, “and rock-and-roll played a major role in supporting the movement by raising funds through free concerts.”

The celebration continues with a Cesar Chavez holiday breakfast held tomorrow, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Mission Language & Vocational School/Latino Culinary Academy 2929 19th St. SF.

“Celebrating the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez gives us all the opportunity to reflect upon the values that Cesar applied in his work,” the festivities press release states. “The values of service to others, sacrifice, self-determination, non-violence, innovation and community.”