Ten legislators will meet with fasting farm workers for a 2 p.m. news conference Thursday at a makeshift vigil on the state Capitol's north steps and then join the eighth leg of the 150-mile, 10-day "March for the Governor's Signature" as it nears Walnut Grove.

Participating Thursday will be state Sens. Richard Alarcon (D-Van Nuys), Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach), Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach), Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), Gloria Romero (D-Monterey Park) and Nell Soto (D-Ontario) plus Assemblymembers Manny Diaz (D-San Jose) and Carl Washington (D-Compton).

The march, fasts and vigils are part of a United Farm Workers campaign urging Gov. Gray Davis to sign SB 1736, the UFW-sponsored bill granting farm workers mediation and arbitration to win union contracts when growers drag out negotiations.

Meanwhile, march organizers released details for Thursday through Saturday. The Merced-to-Sacramento trek--led by UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and union co-founder Dolores Huerta--concludes with a Capitol rally on Sunday, Aug. 25.

The following is information on the march for Thursday through Saturday. To locate marchers during the day or get updated information in case of location changes, contact the UFW's Jocelyn Sherman at the phone numbers listed above.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002--Galt to Walnut Grove
7 a.m. mass, 7:30 a.m. march starts, both at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 950 Lincoln Rd. at Liberty Rd. in Galt.
6 p.m. rally at Dr. Paul Barnes Community Park, Theatre St. and Grove in Walnut Grove.

Friday, Aug. 23, 2002?Walnut Grove to South Sacramento
7 a.m. mass, 7:30 a.m. march starts, both at Dr. Paul Barnes Community Park, Theatre St. and Grove in Walnut Grove.
6 p.m. rally (contact UFW for location)

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002--South Sacramento to Cesar Chavez Plaza
7 a.m. mass, 7:30 a.m. march starts (contact UFW for location)
6 p.m. rally at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 10th & "I" streets in downtown Sacramento.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 2002--Cesar Chavez Plaza to state Capitol
10 a.m. march starts at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 10th & "I" streets in downtown Sacramento.
12 noon rally at state Capitol north steps.

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