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<\/p>\nThe sex abuse allegations against famed labor leader Cesar Chavez has prompted immediate calls that his name be stripped from schools, parks, streets, buildings and holidays.<\/p>\n
The claims immediately became a political issue across California and other states, where Chavez has been memorialized in many ways since his death in 1993.<\/p>\n
Gov. Gavin Newsom said no decisions have been made at the state level regarding what to do about the typical observation of Cesar Chavez Day, but noted there\u2019s a sense of urgency as the March 31 holiday approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we need to move, we\u2019ll do so together,\u201d Newsom said, referring to the state Legislature.<\/p>\n
Many officials expressed a desire to continue honoring the wider farmworker labor movement, even while minimizing Chavez as an individual figure. State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) and Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) said they were already working on legislation to rename the holiday to \u201cFarmworkers Day\u201d \u2014 a concept also pushed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles city officials said they, too, were discussing what to do about the upcoming holiday and future events to honor Chavez.<\/p>\n
\u201cReal progress requires more than moments of reckoning \u2013 it demands sustained action to dismantle social, cultural, economic, and political structures that have hurt women throughout our history,\u201d Mayor Karen Bass said. \u201cMr. Chavez\u2019s crimes do not diminish the courage of farm workers and workers everywhere who fight for their rights, equality for Latinos, and a stronger nation for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
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A chain-link fence casts a shadow on the signage in front of Cesar E. Chavez high school in Santa Ana on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
(Allen Schaben \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
The moves follow publication of a New York Times investigation<\/a> detailing disturbing allegations that Chavez sexually assaulted two underage girls in the 1970s, as well as fellow iconic farmworker leader Dolores Huerta in the 1960s. <\/p>\n Huerta, as well as one of the girls, said Chavez raped her. <\/p>\n There were also calls to purge Chavez\u2019s name from buildings, streets and other features. <\/p>\n On Wednesday afternoon, near the intersection of where Sunset Boulevard becomes Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, California Rising founder Raul Claros called on the city and elected officials to change the road\u2019s name \u201cas soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n His organization, a coalition of nonprofits, faith-based groups and community leaders, has launched a Change.org petition to gather signatures to support renaming it Dolores Huerta Avenue.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re demanding the city of Los Angeles to show leadership, for our school district, our state legislators and our federal partners join us in this movement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday.<\/p>\n (Etienne Laurent \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n \u201cWe know in the Latino community, a lot of this abuse has been tolerated for generations. In our culture, we\u2019re told to stay quiet,\u201d he added. \u201cThat stops now.\u201d<\/p>\n L.A. City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district includes Boyle Heights, called for \u201cthe renaming of all public locations and events that bear his name, as we prioritize accountability and stand with those who have been harmed.\u201d<\/p>\n In the agricultural Central Valley, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias said he would pursue renaming the local Cesar Chavez Boulevard.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic streets and building names are meant to honor individuals who uplifted our community and represented its highest values,\u201d he wrote on Facebook. \u201cGiven what we now know, Cesar Chavez\u2019s actions do not meet that standard, and we have a responsibility to act accordingly.\u201d <\/p>\n In Long Beach, where a park and neighboring elementary school are named for Chavez, Mayor Rex Richardson said the city<\/a> would engage the community to consider \u201chow we recognize the farmworker movement in our public spaces, holidays, and civic life \u2014 including reviewing the naming of public facilities \u2014 in a way that is responsive to this moment and grounded in our values.\u201d<\/p>\n Bakersfield city leaders also announced they would end efforts to rename H Street in Chavez\u2019s honor, a plan that was originally proposed in August 2025<\/a>. <\/p>\n![\"Cesar](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773931753_105_.jpeg\")
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