"Cesar Chavez" Director Diego Luna Drapes A Union Flag Over L.A. City Hall

On Friday, a United Farmworkers of America (UFW) flag was hung to commemorate the nationwide release of the film Cesar Chavez.

By
Norberto Briceño
by Norberto Briceño

BuzzFeed Staff

Director Diego Luna, alongside L.A.-based director Richard Montoya and Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo, hung a UFW flag over the bell tower at City Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.

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Norberto Briceno/ BuzzFeed

Montoya told the press that he suggested the idea to Luna, as a type of "Bat Signal" for everyone to go out and see the film.

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The film is based on the life of Mexican-American civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, who fought for farmworkers' rights starting in the late '60s. He was also one of the founding fathers of the UFW.

Councilmember Cedillo also presented Luna with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles.

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The flag was first designed by Cesar Chavez, along with his family members Richard and Manuel Chavez, back in 1962.

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The eagle was borrowed from the Mexican flag, the color black represented the workers' struggle, the white represented hope, and red represented the sacrifice. The flag has been a permanent fixture of the UFW.

Luna had one last message to give to young Latino filmmakers in the U.S:

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"[Latino filmmakers] should keep investigating," Luna told BuzzFeed. "Keep finding stories. Keep getting out there with the camera. Don't wait to ask for permission. If you have a story you want to tell, go out there and tell it with whatever you have."

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