Call rises to remove Cesar Chavez’ name from sites, streets, events across Southern California
"Movement growing for a "course correction" on conveying the history of the farmworker rights movement, given allegations that came to light Wednesday about Cesar Chavez."
[Had the sexual assaults, including rape, of many women and girls in "the movment," been leveled against a Rebulican or Independent, the words "sexual assaults" and "rapes" would be plastered all over those 2 lead paragraphs of the CA paper.]
"Along Los Angeles’ sun-baked Cesar E. Chavez Avenue on Wednesday, Raul Claros was envisioning a street sign without the name of the late farmworker rights leader, demanding that elected leaders rename the street after Dolores Huerta.
"Claros, founder and director of the nonprofit advocacy group California Rising, said the name must be changed, part of a re-set — a“course correction” — since stunning accusations arose that the late civil rights leader raped longtime ally Huerta and sexually assaulted female followers as young as 12 during the 1970s.
…
"In an explosive New York Times report out Wednesday, Huerta, who will turn 96 on April 10, told the newspaper that Chavez drove her to a secluded grape field in Delano, California, in 1966 and raped her in the vehicle. She said she never reported the attack out of concerns for police hostility toward Chavez and the labor movement, and because she feared she wouldn’t be believed.
…
"More broadly, it was a movement that the state and in some cities and counties by Thursday gained steam, as leaders and grass-roots groups reckoned with the stunning allegations. 'Cancellations and efforts to remove signage bearing his name were adding up". In others, leaders held off on changes, for the moment.
"California’s legislative leaders announced on Thursday the redesignation of the state holiday, and also vowed to work with local governments and school districts to address laws and statutes related to other renaming efforts. Gov. Gavin Newsom also signaled his support for the effort.
"In the city of L.A., Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday also signed a proclamation renaming the city’s César Chávez Day holiday as “Farm Workers Day,” in light of sex assault allegations against the late labor leader.
… "She said the motion will also direct county staffers to explore the renaming of parks, streets, county facilities, property, monuments and other county programs that bear the name of Cesar Chavez. That could include the 'temoval of related imagery in civic art, with decisions guided by community engagement, she noted.
"Solis did not offer a possible new name, but county Supervisor Janice Hahn suggested “Farmworker Day.”
[The article proceeds to detail a long list of cancelled events, discussions and murals, and renaming efforts throughout California, particularly Southern California…]
…"Several states recognize a day on or near Chavez’s March 31 birthday as an annual holiday, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Utah and Washington.
"California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said he was still “processing” the news and wouldn’t commit to making any changes to the state holiday.
"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that his state would not observe the holiday this year, … Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has declined to recognize March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day…
…"Many agreed on one point Wednesday — the movement can be separated from the man. In fact, as Claros suggested, it is a woman — Huerta — who should represent a non-violent movement that sought dignity and fairness for farmworkers through boycotts and pickets.
"We know in the Latino community, a lot of this abuse has been tolerated for generations,” Claros said. “In our culture, we’re told to stay quiet. That stops now.”
"…we have to get Cesar Chavez’s name out of this street and get Dolores Huerta’s name up there.”
https://www.ocregister.com/2026/03/18/call-rises-to-remove-cesar-chavez-name-from-sites-streets-events-across-southern-california/