PHOENIX (AP) — Two of California's top lawmakers announced Thursday they want to rename César Chavez Day following stunning abuse allegations against the revered labor leader.
Political leaders in states and cities are considering similar moves after the allegations became public, accusing Chavez of sexually abusing girls and the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union, Dolores Huerta.
There also have been calls to alter memorials honoring the man who in the 1960s helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers and has been long revered by many Democratic leaders in the U.S.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson's office said Thursday that he won’t issue a proclamation honoring César Chavez Day this year. The California Museum said it will remove Chavez from the state’s Hall of Fame. Celebrations of Chavez in Texas and in his home state of Arizona have been canceled at the request of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
In 2000, California became the first state to designate Chavez’s birthday as a day to honor the civil rights leader. State employees were granted a day off and schools were required to teach students about his legacy and his involvement in the labor movement in California.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, the leaders of the California Legislature, said Thursday they would pass a bill renaming the holiday Farmworkers Day before the end of the month. The legislation would need Gov. Gavin Newsom's approval. He said Wednesday he was open to changing the name of the holiday but made no commitment.
Huerta revealed she was among women and girls who say they were sexually abused by Chavez, the long-admired Latino icon, while he led the United Farm Workers union.
Huerta said in a statement released Wednesday that she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker movement.
The stunning allegations against Chavez, who died more than three decades ago, drew immediate calls to change events and memorials honoring the man who in the 1960s brought to light the struggles of field workers.
