Sen. John Cornyn announces legislation to defund Cesar Chavez national park site

Sen. John Cornyn said Friday he will try to boot Cesar Chavez’s home and burial place from the national park system, saying the monument to the now-disgraced Hispanic rights icon doesn’t deserve taxpayer support.

Mr. Cornyn announced the move on social media, following new revelations that Chavez, who died in 1993, groomed and raped young girls and women who worked with him on his United Farm Workers movement.

President Obama established the Cesar Chavez National Monument in 2012, amid a push to bolster support among Hispanic voters. The monument encompasses his home and office.

It is run by the National Park Service.

Mr. Cornyn said some of the reported abuse took place at the site.

“Not one more dime of taxpayer money should go towards a monument glorifying a monster like Chavez,” the Texas Republican said.

The National Park Service has not responded to inquiries about its plans for the site.

Mr. Cornyn’s legislation could, however, solve a conundrum created by President Trump, who, in an executive order last year, directed the park service to resist efforts to disparage Americans memorialized in its properties.

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Chavez has seen his legacy canceled after The New York Times reported on women who said he groped and forced them into sex in the 1970s, when they were underage and he was in his 40s.

Then Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW with Chavez, said he had forced her to have sex twice in the 1960s, both times resulting in pregnancies.

Ms. Huerta’s revelation shook the political left, where many call her a friend and said they were shocked at the treatment she received from a man whom they’d hailed as a hero.

Monuments and commemorations of Chavez have been quickly erased this week, including statues covered and Chavez Day celebrations canceled.

California officials have said they’ll move to rename March 31, their state holiday honoring Chavez.

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• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.