This article about the Santa Rita Hall was updated on October 3, 2023, to include recent information.
(Phoenix, Arizona) — Santa Rita Hall, situated in South Phoenix, Arizona, holds historical significance as the site where farmworkers’ advocate Cesar E. Chavez staged a hunger strike in 1972 as a form of protest.
Located at 1017 E. Hadley Street, near the intersection of Seventh Street and Buckeye Road, this aging structure remains largely unused and unrenovated despite its historical value. Its doors only open occasionally for community events and gatherings.
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The most recent event at Santa Rita Hall took place on May 13, 2022, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Chavez’s hunger strike. Dolores Huerta, an organizer and civil rights leader, addressed the local community leaders during the event.
Special guest at Santa Rita Hall commemoration Dolores Huerta reminds guests ¡Sí se puede en Arizona!
“Feel the spirit of the movement. Think about Cesar’s dedication.” #VivaDoloresHuerta pic.twitter.com/mkhzqtsDUS— CPLC (@CPLCdotORG) May 13, 2022
Typically, events at Santa Rita Hall are held to observe Chavez’s birthday. The building has become a symbol of historical significance due to Chavez’s hunger strike, which was staged in protest of a proposed bill by the Arizona Legislature.
Cesar Chavez, born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona, and passing away on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona, was a Mexican American labor leader, community organizer, and civil rights activist. He co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, later known as the United Farm Workers.
Key Facts about Santa Rita Hall in Phoenix
Santa Rita Hall was constructed in 1957 by Sacred Heart, a Catholic parish that initially used it as a classroom for catechism and a community center. By the late 1960s, it became a meeting place for a community organization called Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC), which currently owns the building.
The historic barrio known as El Campito, where Mexican and Chinese immigrants resided in the early 1900s, houses the old hall. CPLC reportedly has plans to restore the structure, with ongoing efforts to secure recognition from the U.S. government as a historical site.
The video at the top of this page is from an event on March 27, 2010.
The 2010 event organized by activist José Cortéz hosted artists like Martin Moreno, folkloric dancers, community activists, historians, and others.
Arizona historian Dr. Christine Marin provides more details about this 24-day fast in this article.
Facts about the Santa Rita Hall in Phoenix
The Santa Rita Hall was built in 1957 by Sacred Heart, a Catholic parish that used the building as a classroom for catechism and as a community center.
By the end of the 1960s, the site became a meeting place for a new community organization called Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC), which currently owns the building.
The old hall sits in the neighborhood known as El Campito, a historic barrio where Mexican and Chinese immigrants lived in the early 1900s.
CPLC is said to have plans to restore the structure, while there have been some efforts to obtain the U.S. government’s recognition as a historical site.
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