Sacramento, California
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday to rename César Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day in an effort to reconcile the Latino labor icon’s legacy with recent sexual abuse allegations before the state holiday on March 31.
The state Senate approved the legislation earlier in the day with bipartisan support.
The change comes after allegations surfaced last week that Chavez had sexually abused girls and women during the 1960s while building a major farmworker labor rights movement in California’s agricultural heartland. Dolores Huerta, who co-led the movement that became the United Farm Workers, was among those who accused him.
The state’s effort to rename the holiday is part of a broader movement to alter memorials honoring Chavez, who in the 1960s and 1970s helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers and was admired by many Democratic leaders. The swift effort to remove Chavez’s name from public life was previously unthinkable, given his iconic status since his death in 1993.
Republican Sen. Suzette Valladares said Thursday that her family built a life in California by working the fields and that the movement brought together workers from different backgrounds.
“This is not about one person. This is not about one narrative,” she said. “It’s about honoring generations of sacrifice, of resilience and hope.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limon said honoring farmworkers is especially important in the face of federal raids across the state last year, noting that a worker in her district died after being chased by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last summer.
“His death is a reminder of how much farmworkers risk every day to put food on our table,” she said before the vote. “Our farmworkers remind us that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
The legislation passed Thursday did not address the curriculum requirement that students learn about Chavez’s legacy and role in the labor movement. State leaders said they are in conversation with school officials to adjust lesson plans.
The California bill also passed in the Assembly with bipartisan support on Monday.
“We cannot ignore wrongdoing and we should not continue to celebrate a single person when the movement itself is so much bigger,” Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry said before the vote Monday.
Since the allegations came to light, California State University, Fresno, has covered up Chavez’s statue on campus, while cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento have taken steps to remove his name from public landmarks. Some advocated for Huerta’s name to replace Chavez’s, and several states have indicated they will not observe the day.
Cities across the country are already adjusting annual celebrations. In Tucson, the annual César Chavez and Dolores Huerta March and Rally was scaled back and rebranded as the Comunidad y Labor Unity Fair. In Grand Junction, Colorado, organizers are proceeding with an event now called the Sí, Se Puede Celebration. In El Paso, Texas, March 31 will be celebrated as the Community and Labor Heritage Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the renaming of César Chavez Day?
The renaming was prompted by recent allegations that César Chavez sexually abused girls and women during his work building the farmworker labor rights movement in the 1960s.
Did the legislation address curriculum requirements regarding Chavez?
No, the legislation passed Thursday did not address the existing requirement that students learn about Chavez’s legacy and role in the labor movement in California. State leaders are in conversation with school officials to adjust lesson plans.
What actions have cities taken in response to the allegations?
Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento have taken steps to remove Chavez’s name from public landmarks. California State University, Fresno, has covered up Chavez’s statue on campus.
As communities grapple with these revelations, what does it signify to honor the collective struggle for farmworker rights while acknowledging the alleged harm caused by one of its most prominent leaders?
Worth a look