Chicano activists gather to honor the "March in the Rain"

Photos by Aurelio Jose Barrera
It was 40 years ago Sunday that an estimated 5,000 people marched through East Los Angeles during a driving rain storm to protest the Vietnam War. The “March in the Rain” — one of many demonstrations leading to the much larger and ultimately violent National Chicano Moratorium in August 1970 — was commemorated this weekend at the Salazar Park Senior Center in East Los Angeles. Rosalio Muñoz, pictured above raising his fist, and other organizers were on hand for a panel discussion, part of a series of events designed to raise awareness and commemorate the demonstrations and Chicano activism of 40 years ago. Don Jones, (pictured at right) holds up a poster with the image of Los Angeles Times reporter Ruben Salazar, who was killed in August 1970 when deputy sheriffs fired a tear gas canister during the protests.