California renames Cesar Chavez Day amid NYT abuse allegations

California is moving swiftly to rename the state holiday honoring Cesar Chavez after the New York Times published disturbing allegations of sexual abuse against the revered labor leader.

“Arreola also questioned the timing of the claims”

23ABC News Bakersfield

The detailed allegations, published March 18, 2026, claim Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the farmworker movement.

23ABC News Bakersfield

Specific accounts from Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas described abuse beginning when they were 12 and 13 years old respectively.

The investigation also revealed that fellow activist and union co-founder Dolores Huerta was raped by Chavez twice in the 1960s, resulting in two pregnancies that she kept secret for decades.

In response, the United Farm Workers union immediately distanced itself from Chavez, canceling all planned celebrations for March 31.

The union stated the allegations are 'profoundly shocking' and 'incompatible with our organization's values.'

The union emphasized that allegations involving 'abuse of young women or minors' are particularly crushing.

California legislative leaders have announced plans to rename Cesar Chavez Day as 'Farmworkers Day' in response to the abuse allegations.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tem Monique Limón issued a joint statement declaring that 'California's farmworker rights movement never has been about one individual'.

23ABC News Bakersfield

They announced they would introduce legislation to make the change before the end of March 2026.

Governor Gavin Newsom expressed support for this direction, stating that 'what Cesar represented was a movement — the farmworkers' movement, the labor movement — and it's right to celebrate that movement.'

The bipartisan effort includes Republican Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo from Tulare, who introduced similar legislation.

Macedo emphasized that 'the struggle for dignity in the fields has never been about a single person—it's about the millions of workers who sweat, toil, and aspire to a better life.'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also announced a city proclamation renaming the holiday and moving it to the last Monday of March each year.

The fallout from the allegations has extended far beyond California, with national and international reactions to the scandal.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that his state would not observe Cesar Chavez Day this year and plans to work with lawmakers to remove the holiday from state law entirely.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs also declined to recognize the holiday as she has in previous years.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus released a statement declaring that 'Accountability never dies' and that 'we cannot celebrate a man, regardless of his accomplishments, if he harmed women and children in such vile ways.'

In Latin American media, La Jornada emphasized that 'Chávez's actions do not diminish the lasting improvements achieved for farm workers,' while Univision reported that federal and local politicians expressed shock and support for the survivors.

Internationally, Devdiscourse noted that 'California lawmakers are actively working to rename Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day,' while Anadolu Agency reported that 'one person does not define a movement' and that 'the people are the movement.'

The allegations have triggered widespread reconsideration of public memorials, institutions, and educational materials bearing Chavez's name.

The California Museum announced it would remove Chavez from the state's Hall of Fame, an unprecedented move in the institution's history.

@sfstandard

Multiple cities are reviewing street names and public spaces named after Chavez, including San Diego's consideration of renaming Cesar Chavez Parkway and nearly a dozen parks and public buildings.

San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder stated her office would support community efforts to remove Chavez's name from institutions in the city's predominantly Latino Mission District.

In education, the California Department of Education urged teachers to minimize Chavez's role when teaching about the farm workers' movement.

The Los Angeles Unified School District announced it would review curriculum and resources to ensure 'the emphasis remains on the important work of the farmworker movement, not on any one individual.'

Meanwhile, Fresno State University covered its Chavez statue with a black tarp, and a memorial site in Stockton was covered with a sign reading 'Believe Women And Children.'