California to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day following sexual abuse allegations

Associated Press
Posted

(AP) — California legislative leaders announced Thursday they are going to rename César Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day in light of the sexual abuse allegations against the labor rights icon.

California was the first state to designate Chavez’s birthday as a day to honor the civil rights leader nearly 30 years ago. In 2000, the Legislature passed a bill to make it an official paid day off for state employees and require the state to start teaching students about his legacy and his involvement in the labor movement in California.

Many other California workers are given the day off.

Labor rights activist Dolores 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.