Many upcoming celebrations and holidays honoring late farmworker labor leader Cesar Chavez will be renamed, postponed or canceled entirely in the wake of… Allegations that he was sexually assaulted Women and girls as president of the United Farm Workers union.
Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta revealed this week that she was among those who say they were abused by Chavez, who died more than three decades ago.
The allegations sparked rapid repercussions, including from the United Farm Workers, which announced it would not participate in any events bearing the name of the organization’s former leader.
Several states recognize Chavez’s birthday on or around March 31 as an annual holiday, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Utah, and Washington. In 2014, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. However, this day is not a paid holiday for federal workers, but a commemorative observance.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that his state will not observe the holiday this year, and he is directing all heads of government agencies to comply with the change. Abbott also said he would work with lawmakers to remove the holiday from state law.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has refused to recognize March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day as she had the previous two years, said Liliana Soto, a spokeswoman for Hobbs. Although it is not an official holiday, some Arizona municipalities recognize it, and close schools or government offices.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he was still “processing” the news and would not commit to making any changes to the state holiday.
The city of Lansing, Michigan, has canceled its March 25 Cesar Chavez Legacy Dinner. The featured speaker was scheduled to be Chavez Rodriguez’s granddaughter, who was campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
“We are committed to honoring the Latino community and the service, dignity and rights of farmworkers,” the city said. “We will work to organize more events and celebrations in the future.”
The city of Milwaukee also canceled its annual celebration.
The Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council in Arizona has postponed its annual Cesar y Chavez Community Breakfast, with plans to reschedule it to focus on the contributions and accomplishments of the county’s Hispanic population.
San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, has canceled its celebration of Cesar Chavez, the city’s mayor announced Wednesday morning. Matt Mahan said the city will identify ways to honor the legacy of the farmworker movement without celebrating “individuals who have caused such profound harm to the community.”
Hispanic lawyers and business leaders in Austin, Texas, announced that the annual march to honor Chavez scheduled for March 28 will no longer be held. Several Austin city leaders have also announced that they support renaming Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
The Cesar Chavez Commission for Peace and Justice in Denver canceled the celebration scheduled for April 11.
Officials with the AFL-CIO said the allegations came as a shock and that the union federation would not participate in or endorse any activities marking Cesar Chavez Day.
“Our thoughts go first and foremost to any victims of assault and abuse who have described experiencing what no one — especially children — should ever have to endure,” AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler and Treasurer Fred Redmond said in a statement. statement. “No legacy can justify that.”
The organization continues to support farmworkers and said the rights they have earned “cannot be erased by the horrific actions of one person.”
Dozens of schools, streets and other sites across the United States have been named after Chavez, including the Cesar y Chavez National Monument in Keene, California.
Renaming the national monument would require a resolution from Congress, said Dennis Arguelles, director of the National Parks Conservation Association in Southern California. He said the national park site should continue to honor the agricultural worker movement and the leaders who fought for dignity, better working conditions and fair wages.
The Lubbock Democratic Party in Texas on Wednesday called on city leaders to rename Cesar Chavez Road in honor of Dolores Huerta.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee City Council Member Jocasta Zamarripa said discussions will begin soon about what to do about a street named after Chavez.
Portland, Oregon, City Councilwoman Candice Avalos said she will start a petition to rename a street in the city after Huerta. City rules require 2,500 signatures to begin the renaming effort, Avalos wrote on social media, urging her constituents to stay tuned for ways to help in the effort.
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat from New Mexico, issued a statement Wednesday saying abuse of any kind, especially against children, is indefensible and a betrayal of the values that Latino leaders have stood for for generations.
“His name should be removed from monuments, institutions and honors,” Lujan said of Chavez. “We cannot celebrate someone who has committed such disturbing harm.” ___ Associated Press reporters across the U.S. contributed.